Heralds Digest

“My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places...Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, Who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭32:18, 20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.32.18,20.nkjv Peaceful habitation looks great in serene habitats, where everyone in the environment are comfortable in a peaceful co-existence with one another. There would no need for suicide bombing, assassination, ethnic cleansing, murderous attacks, backbiting, slandering, and all forms of wickedness. Obviously, this kind of habitation is impossible under any humanly controlled security and policing system. Peaceful habitation is reserved as the significant promise of God’s millennium reign of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth. However, the scriptures talk of the blessedness of sowing beside all waters, and sending out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey. It is the construction of a peaceful palace in the heart and the exp...

“On the land of my people will come up thorns and briers, Yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city...Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, And the fruitful field is counted as a forest.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭32:13, 15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.32.13,15.nkjv Complacency is not borne out a lack of useful desire for fruitfulness, but it is the consequence of an undesirable celebration of fruitfulness. Fruitfulness in professional, ministry and family life is relative, as there is no such thing as absolute fruitlessness with all of God’s creation. However, a myopic assessment of personal achievement, especially when compared with contemporary performances, often breeds premature celebrations and wasteful complacency. Meanwhile, the scriptures say “To whom much is given, much is expected...”. The Giver of grace towards an inspired productive engagement is the only Assessor of human productivity in life. Therefore, the best ...

“Return to Him against whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted...Then Assyria shall fall by a sword not of man, And a sword not of mankind shall devour him. But he shall flee from the sword, And his young men shall become forced labor.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭31:6, 8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.31.6,8.nkjv While sin slavery is a voluntary commission of all victims unto the control of the devil, freedom from sin slavery is not an easy walkout from captivity. For example, those who voluntarily get initiated into secret cults understand how impossible it is to walk away without a fight. The den of sin and unrighteousness appears in shades and sizes, including the web of pornography, world of immorality, worldliness and deceit, drug addiction, etc, is designed for a one-way trap-traffic. Good for the Assyria agenda (or the devil’s desires), the voluntary victims of sin have deeply revolted against the commandments of God - in their ignorant demand for freedom of expression. Unfortuna...

“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the LORD!” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭31:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.31.1.nkjv The outstretched arms of God are literally the manifestation of His omnipotence, particularly through the people - the work of His hands. Invariably, obedient men are the extension or the helping hands of His divine benevolence; and those who constantly look up to heaven for help are the ready instruments with God for consistent validation of the essence of human existence. Unfortunately, the instruments with God are easily turned the instruments of man when pride ensued. Thereafter, help from the instruments of man can only be released to beneficiaries who are willing to look down to worship man (rather than enduring the long waiting on heaven for divine assistance). However, the scriptures declare that ...

“You shall have a song As in the night when a holy festival is kept, And gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute, To come into the mountain of the LORD, To the Mighty One of Israel. The LORD will cause His glorious voice to be heard, And show the descent of His arm, With the indignation of His anger And the flame of a devouring fire, With scattering, tempest, and hailstones. For through the voice of the LORD Assyria will be beaten down, As He strikes with the rod.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30:29-31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.30.29-31.nkjv Agents of darkness and the enemies of progress in life are never satisfied with the denial of their victim’s good, until they are fully convinced that the aspiration to seek for good is destroyed. Assyria will never rest his assault until the people of God are contented with the melody of defeat and discouragement. However, the Glorious Lord of Host declares ‘You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept...’. For the vict...

“Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.30.18.nkjv Waiting times in time of great delude and devastation are sincerely trying times for believers’ confidence in God. The challenge is always the rationale for keeping the promises of God’s Protection in the face of losing our peace to the enemies’ aggression. Often times, the salvation from the Lord comes after the worst has been let loose from the devil’s arsenal. And God would appear to be unconcerned. Meanwhile, the waiting time to those who care to find out creates several opportunities for character mouldings, where the righteous’ ears are open to holy instructions and their mouth learn how to speak gracious words. Unfortunately, hearts that are desperate for quick deliverance would trade the waiting will for a wayward...

“For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not, And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses”— Therefore you shall flee! And, “We will ride on swift horses ”— Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30:15-16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.30.15-16.nkjv Charismatic pursuit of the will of God in every area of human endeavour often adopt the stereotype of smooth ride, intelligent slide and beautiful appearance in believers’ prestige, prosperity, and prospects. Whereas, the expected ends in the pursuit of the sincere will of God does not necessarily attract blissful beginnings. To God, confidence in the God of the Will is preferred to the expected comfort in the will of God. That way, believers are able to stay quiet and confident, especially when the pursuit of the revealed of God appears to attract unfavourable occurrences. Unfortunately, pr...