Heralds Digest

One of the beauties of a long time love relationship, especially in marriage, is the understanding between partners. After long affairs through thick and thin, it would be easier to predict the line of asking and receiving. Each party makes only requests that are confident to be or would be honoured. Infidelity is also strange at this point; because each party has had enough experience of each other, and had possibly judged that there cannot be any satisfaction in any other relationship. Yet this assessment is mostly possible through fellowship in difficulties, rather than the friendship in sweet seasons of life. The journey of faith provides the privilege of a sacred romance with God. Pain and suffering must have been fermented into a sweet savour of trust. The beauty of this amazing experience transcend beyond asking and receiving. It provides the understanding of the personality of God, and His interests in all of life's personal, professional and ministerial projects. Project ...

Without excusing the lack of proper guides and caution, construction sites always have the highest record of accidents. Safety becomes the highest priority in places men work with heavy equipments that can easily go out of control. Although faith is dead without work, uncontrolled schedule of work, even if started by faith, is counter-productive. There is the understanding of personal calling where faith starts; and continue to work. And the flesh is put under self control where faith works. The work of faith is executed with the spirit of God. The Spirit coordinates all activities in obedience to the counsel of God. Therefore, meekness, peace, righteousness, and gentleness are easily decorated on the gowns of all men at the site where faith works.

Passive Faith ends in words without action. It is the declaration of beliefs without active participation in its implementation. God can do all things without the help of man; but He would rather do nothing without the participation of man. Although non participation comes from disowning the risk involved, passive faith attempts to degrade the potency of God to the level of man. God is looking for people whose faith can declare the omnipotent power of God to provide, protect, and deliver His children. Active faith joins the wagon of the faithfuls, declaring "nothing is too difficult for God to deliver" and displaying "nothing is too risky for man to demonstrate". The Lord Jesus Christ risked all; and lost nothing in the end. However, He hopes that active faith will still remain when He returns for His brides.

Whether on the sea, land or air, the intentions of hijackers with attacks on vessels and vehicles are the same. Pirates operating the Gulf of Aden would use automatic weapons and Rocket Propelled Grenades to launch attacks on the high sea. Irrespective of the original destination of the hijacked vessel, the ship may end up at a different destination chosen by the pirates. Also in personal homes and businesses, there are strong influences of pirates whose intention is to lead a great course into a wrong destination. However, the scriptures say the culprit is responsible for the hijack - " when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed ". A journey started in the Spirit requires a consistent monitoring of the will of the Spirit. Living by faith, rather than fact, is the only guarantee that the perfect road map will be followed. This is pathway where the will of man is daily mirrored in the will of God. Human intelligence always disown the will of God, albeit in stormy tid...

Being made in the image of God, everyone is created with the sense and desire to do good. Besides treats to personal pride, position, and privileges, all men are willing to offer a selfless service in the most undesirable situations and circumstances. To God, this is a sacrifice of praise; and to fellow man, it is a sacrifice of goodness. Praise and goodness are bound with the Spirit of the eternal sacrifices; but they are well pleasing unto God. Sacrifices are undoubted expressions of faith; and the evidences of believers' testimonies about the existence of God. Man cannot grow in his experience of God without allowing moments of genuine sacrifices, in relationship with God and fellow men. Praise God at all times and do good to men in all circumstances. These are the best ways to present a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice unto God.

If the excitement, motivation, and strength at the beginning of every race in life are retained, almost all racers will finish up with the same starting speed. But the reality is, even if the excitement and motivation are preserved, the strength of all racers get depleted along the track. Spiritual race is no difference. Many do lose faith with challenges of life; and failed to finish up as planned. In the race of faith, the author and the finisher of faith is the same Jesus. All who can relate with Him as the Author of faith can also retain Him as the Finisher. Challenges in life notwithstanding, Jesus Christ is bound to finish all that He started in every of His heralds. When it becomes difficult to understand how to finish, consistent reference to Christ's amazing work as Author is always sufficient. And since the Author is the same as the Finisher, there is no cause for alarm. Man should rather be preoccupied with praising God for all He's started or done.

It is expected that faith forecloses violence; however, violence becomes inevitable with strong opposition. Only violent faith can stop the mouth of lions, subdued kingdoms and authorities, turned to flight the armies of aliens and doubters, etc. The heart of faith does not quench in the fiercest of calamities. It ceaseless lift the banner against all evils. While the battle ground during the old testament shift from region to region, the battle ground in these days is the heart of man. The weapon that sustain the heat is the word of God - sword of the Spirit- and prayers. The target of the Devil is always to bring up excuses that will prevent the flow of God's word and prayer. Through discouragement and sin, the edge of the sword becomes blunt and unproductive.