Heralds Digest

"Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭10:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.10.5-6.nkjv The intent of grace is the provision of the favourable environment for godliness and righteousness. Unfortunately, the absence of truth often abuses the provision of grace, where man is only religious but dominated by the affairs of this life. Conversely, Cornelius demonstrated the human capacity for dominion without grace. Although this capacity is limited for access to the throne of God, it is respected by the God of the throne. He did not only fear the Lord, his pious lifestyle had a consistent influence in the life of the immediate family. God's attention to those whose fear of Him had a potent influence, not an enforcement influence, on others shows the primary essence of human existence. Although it is always easy to be carried away by the abi...

“There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:33-34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.9.33-34.nkjv It's August, the eighth month and the significance of divine visitation. Like Aeneas, there might have been bedridden situations and circumstances that have refused to disappear, in spite of all the efforts in the previous months and years. However, man is generally created to organize and dominate the situations and circumstances around him. But when a man becomes impotent and unable to perform, either at home, workplace and in the society, everyone knows that dignity and respects are lost. Even in dignified societies, where social aids and assistance are predominant, beggars know the dignity in having a choice. Fortunately, at the eighth year, Jesus found and healed Aeneas of his paralysis. Today, the liber...

“Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.9.31.nkjv Like the barter of material resources for peace, many paths to the similitude of peace demand some precious sacrifices or forfeiture. Worldly peace often takes away access to eternal peace. But for the early church, peace from persecution came only at God's own time and after the fulfilment of the pentecostal purpose - preaching the gospel in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and beyond. While peace without this persecution could have been pleasurable, there would have been no fulfilment and edification in a pursuit of pleasure, outside the purpose of God for the salvation of the early disciples. Therefore, trouble and trials today in personal, family, and national life may be the safest path to a prosperous peace tomorrow. Pro...

“But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:15-16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.9.15-16.nkjv The record of glories in the past provides a useful encouragement for reasonable enlistments of volunteers into the service of the Lord. It is a relevant account of faithfulness and an evidence of reliability. However, many whose past is filled with worthless engagements, questionable activities, and insecure services are written off for the best interest of the system. For the converted Saul, it takes the recommendation of the Lord for Ananias and the disciples in Damascus to enlist the young disciple into the service of the ministry. Unfortunately, with over-reliance on due diligence, many valuable vessels are rendered unproductive in the ministries today for leader's apparent lack of sensitivity to the leading...

“And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.9.5-6.nkjv Ultimate fulfilment in life is derived from an unreserved submission to the silent call of duty in the heart of man. Even those whose heads have been unknowingly brainwashed are preyed by a solemn call of duty, based on coordinated indoctrination. These devotees are undoubtedly reliable subjects and uncompromising servants of their master or perceived Lord. And like most terrorists, Saul persecuted and killed believers in Christ on a perceived devotion to an unknown Lord. It was a definite response to a call of duty without a relationship with the Master of duty - a sudden submission. Unfortunately, this type of submi...

“Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭8:29-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.8.29-30.nkjv Mission work demands a little more effort than the distribution of gospel materials and messages, especially when dealing with people of divers cream, colours and cultures. Most times, there are significant restrictions on outreach efforts when an appreciable sense of humour, sensibility and significant interest in the affairs of the target audience are absent. Phillip asked the eunuch of Ethiopia " Do you understand what you are reading? " as if he was fully abreast of his own situation or what he himself was reading. Finding himself suddenly in the desert, away as an evangelist from accomplished testimonies of outreach events, should have generated some sort of misunderstanding. Yet, he chose to be interested in what the e...

“And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭8:18-19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.8.18-19.nkjv The desire for the gifts of the Spirit is consistent with the promise of the Father and one of the vital requirements for the fulfillment of the great commission. However, Simon's desire for the Holy Spirit represents an out-of-place expression of bitterness and a wicked desire for displacement of fellow worker, rather than a devotion for fellow service. Apparently, he had earlier responded to a call for salvation during the ministration of Phillip through a forceful recognition of superiority. But given the possibility of a bargain for Holy Spirit, he probably aim to recover the desired superiority over Phillip, whereby regaining the spiritual control of Samaria. Whereas, the gifts of the Spirit are...