Heralds Digest

““Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭24:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.24.5.nkjv In the season of thanksgiving, those whose experiences have been characterized by distress, disappointments and deprivation may appear to have found swift reason to be moody. Goodness is easily acknowledged through flamboyance and flashy display of affluence, job security and permanent residency in places with the highest standard of living. But when God told prophet Jeremiah that " I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah " as " good figs ", there is sufficient reason to accommodate a different perspective of the subject of goodness. Even when the eyes cannot account for a single substance for thanksgiving, the heart can always acknowledge the presence and preserva...

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the LORD....“And as for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, ‘The oracle of the LORD!’ I will even punish that man and his house.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23:16, 34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.23.16,34.nkjv Bread and butter Christianity provides a futile ground for the prosperity of fake ministers and ministries. Since all that matter in the atmosphere of fake worship is the supply of the material needs of the worshippers, all that is needful of fake ministers become the declaration of the words of peace and prosperity, even when danger is lurking around. As God was angry with prophets who turned worthless His undiscerning people in the days of prophet Jeremiah, He is calling believers today to desire the revelation of His words, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, more than the charismat...

“I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the LORD.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.23.4.nkjv The shepherd's space in the present global village is no longer defined by geographic territories. Due to technological advancements, the message of restoration and righteousness is potentially capable of moving closer and faster than the mobility of ministers. Unfortunately, the restriction occasioned by insensitive shepherds, through selfish, regional and denominational mindsets, is capable of promoting spiritual malnutrition in the kingdom of God. With a disturbing dearth in the balance of truth and grace in ministrations, God is looking for shepherds who are more sensitive to His word and instructions, more than the politics of personal, church or denominational administration. Even within a local assembly, the sheep starves unnecessarily due to the shepherd's unwillin...

“And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭26:22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/gen.26.22.nkjv No one enjoys a thousand mile road trip, irrespective of the pleasantries of attraction, without a frequent service of rest rooms. Isaac had the pleasantries of God's abiding presence and promises at the beginning of his sojourn in the land of Gerar: " Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father ". But the experience of envy that followed, with the people of the land, wasn't a pleasant tale. Apparently, God withheld the expected rest room, in spite of the promises of His presence. Believers often query the unexpected challenges at home, workplace, and the journey...

““Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭22:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.22.15.nkjv What the world meant by the conception that ' absolute power and position corrupt absolutely ' may not be far from the description of a man whose senses are influenced by material prosperity. This is because every normal man appears to lose his control of the expected sense of responsibility to a course bigger than self, especially with increase in material wealth. Whereas, it should have been that every man's obligation to the course of service to humanity is strengthened with material prosperity. Apparently, everyone is handicapped in life without the support or the influence of the Giver of life. Only God's grace enables the retaining of the sense of everyone's moral mentality, even when prosperity attempt to inject the overdose of material intoxi...

“Weep not for the dead, nor bemoan him; Weep bitterly for him who goes away, For he shall return no more, Nor see his native country.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭22:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.22.10.nkjv A call into a covenant relationship comes with significant level of commitment and responsibility, which many often seek to waive by equating sacred covenant with reversible contract. By virtue of the covenant relationship between God and king David, the responsibility of ruling with the fear of God and taking care of the fatherless, widows, and strangers become imperative for every occupant of the throne. Likewise, many are called and chosen to provide ministrations to people in life and ministry on the basis of covenant relationship and not necessarily by a mere contractual responsibility. That life's responsibilities can be overwhelming and unbearable is largely more than a possibility. Certainly, God wouldn't walk away from any covenant relationship with His children. He gives ...

““Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, And rock of the plain,” says the LORD, “Who say, ‘Who shall come down against us? Or who shall enter our dwellings?’” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭21:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.21.13.nkjv The preference for spiritual distinctiveness and moral uprightness can be misinterpreted as a call for social isolation. Whereas, the scripture teaches that believers are the light of the world. And if a light gives no distinctive luminosity, it becomes irrelevant as a useful guide for any community. Within the doomed land of Jerusalem was situated an isolated enclave of the city of David, socially disconnected from the precarious Jerusalem. And while the inhabitant of the valley appears removed from the wickedness of Jerusalem by leaving on the rock of the plain, God's wrath abides with them because of their preference for irrelevant isolation. The grace of God that bring salvation appeared to all men; and it is only relevant for believers' ...