Heralds Digest

“Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: “Jacob shall not now be ashamed, Nor shall his face now grow pale; But when he sees his children, The work of My hands, in his midst, They will hallow My name, And hallow the Holy One of Jacob, And fear the God of Israel.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭29:22-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.29.22-23.nkjv The adage that say ‘Success has many friends, but failure is an orphan’ underscores the burden of fruitless experiences in life. Even in the assembly of God’s people, testimonies of success and breakthrough in career, family, and business affairs are often packaged without the detail expression of fruitfulness with the presence of God during the wilderness experience. Whereas, the sweet fellowship with the Lord and the fear of the God of Israel always bring joy and hope during the ugly moments in life. Intimacy with the Lord, who redeemed Abraham from his fruitless mentality, represents a fruitful field for p...

“Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work Among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭29:13-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.29.13-14.nkjv Advances in the level of sophistication with human intelligence and understanding make good the scriptural declaration “You are gods, and all of you are the children of the Most High”. Human creativity is inherited from God, the Great Creator. Therefore, intimate relationship with God is expected to inspire advanced creativity in every sphere of human life. This advancement is designed as an extension of the activities of the Most High God in the world. Unfortunately, human sophistication with...

“Yet I will distress Ariel; There shall be heaviness and sorrow, And it shall be to Me as Ariel...The multitude of all the nations who fight against Ariel, Even all who fight against her and her fortress, And distress her, Shall be as a dream of a night vision.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭29:2, 7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.us/114/isa.29.2,7.nkjv The glory from a pain-taking episode is always preferred to the grace for a pain-bearing experience. And this preference often produce a half-hearted gratitude for God’s consistent faithfulness throughout all the seasons of life. But a thoughtful look on the plight of God whenever His children endure hardness and pain will sustain an expected gracious gratitude. For example, even when He supported the distress - heaviness and sorrow - of Ariel (the beloved of God in a city of Jerusalem), the scriptures say “...it shall be to Me (God) as Ariel”. Obviously, He knows the painful situations; He sees the tearful circumstances; and He hears the crying hearts, becaus...

“When he has leveled its surface, Does he not sow the black cummin And scatter the cummin, Plant the wheat in rows, The barley in the appointed place, And the spelt in its place? For He instructs him in right judgment, His God teaches him.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭28:25-26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.28.25-26.nkjv Many often concur to the narrative of an unfair God when faced with the challenges of life. They say ‘Life ain’t fair’, when frustrated by a recurrent failure to succeed, in spite of the much greater efforts invested than the average success blowers around. It is always difficult to accept the fact that God is not often interested in the changing of beloved’s condition, than the changing of believer’s character. Referring to the example of a plowman with the black cummin, cummin, wheat, barley, and the spelt, the scriptures say “When he has levelled its surface...”. Everything in life needs time before the expected change comes. And those who partner with the Great Counsell...

“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭28:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.28.16.nkjv Confidence in a precious spouse has often led many into the sea of separation and divorce in times of conflict of interest. Confidence in a tried boss or capital market has resulted in retrenchment or bankruptcy in recessive seasons of life. Confidence in a sure family and friends has led many to attempt suicide in moments of mistrust. Obviously, the evidence of confidence in changeable spouse, boss, family and friends is not the problem, but the deficit of confidence in the unchangeable God. Jesus Christ, the scriptures say, is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the sure foundation upon which any relationship with the elements of this world can stand without fear of suffering loss. In every moment, season, and times in life, His lo...

“The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, Will be trampled underfoot; And the glorious beauty is a fading flower...In that day the LORD of hosts will be For a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty To the remnant of His people,” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭28:3-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.28.3-5.nkjv The predicament of Ephraim suggested that the social security in material prosperity is always desirable until the mind is intoxicated with self-confidence and pride. Meanwhile, the problem of the heart of man is not its exposure to material prosperity, but the closure of intoxicated souls to inspiration and spiritual prosperity under the influence of pride. Therefore, the wise remnant of God’s people are conscious of the danger of feeding the needs of the body at the expense of starving the soul. Daily inspiration through fellowship with the Lord remains the glorious desire of the righteous, even if the needs of the body are forfeited. After all, the value of material prosperity deprec...

“And it shall come to pass in that day That the LORD will thresh, From the channel of the River to the Brook of Egypt; And you will be gathered one by one, O you children of Israel.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭27:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.27.12.nkjv Life gets easily messed up through treacherous trespassing of the laws of nature. And within the sea of social decadence, immorality, and insecurity, the hope of possible restoration of dignity is always vague. The step of a prodigal son away from the care and fellowship of a loving father begins with a simple step of disobedience. However, one of the amazing realities of the nature of God is that He pursues an unquenchable love relationship with man. Like the LORD’s pursuit of the children of ISRAEL from river Euphrates to the Brook of Egypt, God’s hands of love are always reaching out to His herring children, even after the sacrifice of His only begotten Son - Jesus Christ - as substitute for man’s sin and condemnation. To God, every m...