Heralds Digest

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:4-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.29.4-5.nkjv In the late 19th century, history reveals that British home children were sent to Canada from similar backgrounds but ended up leading very different lives. Some were opined to be lucky with adoption, while others were acknowledged to be exploited and abused. However, remarkable experiences have emerged about those who chose to accommodate or adopt Masters of exploitation and abuse in lives for their future prosperity. Jeremiah was inspired to encourage the captive Jews in Babylon to choose the path of accommodating their ugly experiences with focus on dominion and prosperity with God’s authorization. Today, and in all the nations of the world, the opinion of obedient Jews to Jeremiah’s admonition mat...

“As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭28:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.28.9.nkjv Many doomsday preachers would always take advantage of catastrophic consequences of the end-time events; but many of these false prophets will be wary of presumptuous declarations of peace prophecy. However, in a jealous response to the sincere prophecy of Jeremiah, Hananiah provided the people with a self-directed peace prophecy. To many people in anticipation of transition from calamity, catastrophe, and chaos, peace prophecy or prosperity preaching is always attractive. Unfortunately, material prosperity preaching without sincere repentance and regeneration is a recipe for doomsday preparation. While Jeremiah humbly said “Amen” to Hananiah’s prophecy in support of prosperity, God responded with His verdict of doom for the people’s rebellion against righteousness. Obv...

“‘I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me. And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant; and the beasts of the field I have also given him to serve him.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭27:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.27.5-6.nkjv Although absolute power appears to provide the platform for greater creativity, it is noted to possess the capacity for absolute corruption. The most pious man will be miserably polluted in the absence of higher preservative influence. Such were the burden of the kings of Judah, until the invitation of king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon as the deputy of punishment. For the people of God, nation of priests, and the colony of prophets to be asked to submit their priced possession, power, and properties to the heathen King and nation appeared an improper proposition. Yet, the fundamental concept ...

“As for me, here I am, in your hand; do with me as seems good and proper to you. But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will surely bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for truly the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭26:14-15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.26.14-15.nkjv In message ministries, the relevance of the priests and prophets are clearly renown in all social and economic references to the people and princes. While the state are expected to provide the necessary legislative and executive stability for political governance, the institutions of clergy men are respected as the custodians of the mind of God. Unfortunately, and like in the days of Jeremiah, the people and princes appear to show more maturity in reference to the counsel of the Lord, compared with the manifestation of the priests and prophets. Jeremiah was being persecuted by the priests and prophets for standing w...

“And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “You shall certainly drink! For behold, I begin to bring calamity on the city which is called by My name, and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished, for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth,” says the LORD of hosts.’” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭25:28-29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.25.28-29.nkjv Intoxicating drinks have the reputation for attracting people who desire temporary blindness to unwanted calamity in life. However, everyone knows that temporal denial of any sorrowful future brings no real solution or escape from the impending calamity. Obviously, intoxication is the strategy of the devil to denial his captives of the possibility of finding genuine solution to their problems. Whereas, God’s invitations to the cup of drinks or controversy remind the heart about the certainty of His impending Judgment. Unexp...

“They said, ‘Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever. Do not go after other gods to serve them and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands; and I will not harm you.’” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭25:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.25.5-6.nkjv Affluence or prosperity often disguises as a reliable freedom from superior reckoning and the solemn worship of God. And an unrestricted liberty would create an imaginary altar of worship as alternative to the fear of God in the heart of man. For Judah and the people of Jerusalem, their citizenship of the promised land had become one of their unconditional rights and privileges. Whereas, God insisted that ‘dwelling in the land that the LORD has already given’ was still conditional. It implies that economic prosperity or career breakthrough is not yet an escape route away from final desolation and eternal destruction....

““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. For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭24:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.24.5-6.nkjv God’s presentation of the plight of the Chaldean captives as good figs was a privileged revelation to prophet Jeremiah. Like the experience of Andrew Cheney in the modern day cast of the biblical Joseph in the movie ’Seasons of Grey’, it is difficult to understand the morality in the seasons of brutality experienced by those who stand straight by the truth. Even when captured and held captive to the strange land of Babylon, God maintained “I have sent (them) out of this place for their own good”. Unfortunately, not many are privileged...