Heralds Digest

“These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.17.11.nkjv Thomas A. Edison's famous quote that "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration" appears to provide a quantitative analysis of the time resource to be invested on both inspiration and perspiration, without necessarily alluding to the qualitative edge of the former over the latter. However, being the human component of the expected inputs, perspiration have succeeded in producing close-minded professionals and the ordinary people in our social world. Opinions are formed or deformed merely based on pre-conceived ideologies. Whereas, openness to divine inspiration can always provide new and better ways of life; and probably an alternative direction for efficient project execution. The attitude of the ...

“But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:6-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.17.6-7.nkjv "Why did God recommend the flogging of kids by their parents?", a kid queried. Unapologetic minds are often sympathetic to the concerns of 'kids' - the innocent, simple-minded, and vulnerable victims of the evil and erroneous manipulation of the agents of the devil - in the world. Whereas, the enemy of our souls is always forceful in his effort to promote resistance to correction. The undisturbed Jews were irked by the fact that Paul and Silas succeeded in convincing their converts in Thessalonica that the crucified Jesus is the Christ. It was a simple alignment to the fulfillment of plan of God in the acts of...

“So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:36-37‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.16.36-37.nkjv Life is full of struggle for survival and sustenance, especially in an increasingly competitive world. And when the society is governed by men of corrupt minds, everyone in the system often finds little or no haven for freedom without compromise and corruption. Like the corrupt magistrates in the days of Paul and Silas, righteous men can easily suffer incarceration for political witch hunt and selfish societal gains. Instead of seeking freedom from corrupt magistrates, Paul and Silas sought the face of God. Unfortunately, God is often perceived as being too far away from the rea...

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:25-26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.us/114/act.16.25-26.nkjv While the content of praises to God is straightforward, the context of every praise worship is often complicated. Praising God for what He has done is easier than worshipping the Creator of heaven and earth for who He is and what He knows about our prevailing situations and circumstances. Knowing fully well that what Paul and Silas knew about what God has done permitting their persecution and imprisonment does not warrant praise, we know that the context of their praise must be centred on the superior knowledge of God and their confidence in His ability to bring good out of a seemingly ugly situation. Fulfilment of promises for provision an...

“This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:17-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.16.17-18.nkjv Those who care about being famous are often bothered by the suggestive implication in the metrics of 'followers' and 'following' in our social world. While many are mostly concerned about the metrics of their 'followers', the metrics of 'following' is the most important indicator of life's personal convictions. Paul the Apostle here was unapologetic about the fact that he was a faithful follower of Jesus, meaning a single and undivided metric of 'following'. He had followed Jesus to Macedonia to preach the gospel and win followers for Jesus and...

“Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.16.10.nkjv The principle of divine influence in the steering of the will of man is clearly demonstrated in the call to Macedonia. Within a single day, there were developing sensitivity to consecutive experiences of "Not Approved", "Not Permitted", or "Not Released". Human will is naturally weak in handling these types of disappointing experiences. A change of guard on the steering of life from natural to spiritual requires a significant amount of sensitivity, especially when the devil and his agents are nevertheless prepared to unseat the unwary man. Paul and his team gradually learned obedience to the series of Spirit's disapproval in order to appreciate the Spirit's leading to preach the gospel in Macedonia. Sensitivity to the Spirit's caution ...

“Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek...So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:3, 5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.16.3,5.nkjv Righteousness exalts a nation composed of people's sense of respect for acceptable relationships and dignity at home and the society. This sense of respect had earlier introduced accommodation of different standards for the Jews and the Greek (or the gentile world) on the issue of circumcision. But when Timothy must enjoyed one of the privileges or acceptance, apparently as Jew or First-Class minister of the gospel, Paul had to bend more a little in favour of the respect race. Except in certain instances when God's commandments are disrespected, insensitivity to people's sense of respect, cultural diversity, and people's opinion about acceptable social lifest...