Heralds Digest

“And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.8.24.nkjv One of the devastating influences of the raging of the water and wind in life is the lost of focus and the crippling of believers’ confidence in the statements and promises of the Master. Fear of the unknown in life torments the minds from contemplating on the right purpose for living. When the disciples of Jesus cried out “Master, Master, we are perishing!”, it was obvious that the slightest faith in the Redeemer’s commissioning to the other side of the lake was completely lost. They were absolutely fearful and crippled by the fate of death. However, it is instructive to note that life’s raging in believers’ career, family, and ministry is already rebuked; as long as they are engaged at the centre of God’s will. Therefore, faith in the M...

“But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/114/luk.8.21.nkjv The ‘Family First’ admonition is mostly relevant in our fast-paced world of prior pursuit of career advancement, selfishness in social relationships at work, home and in the society. However, the misconception in the admonition is obvious in most relationships where the concept of the First Family is misunderstood. When the disciples called the attention of Jesus to the possibility of leaving God’s assignment in order to attend to parents, it was necessary for Christ to correct the misplacement of priority. In most homes and fellowships, the problem of misplacement of priority is not with the ‘Family First’ admonition; the real problem is the misconception in the ‘First Family’ admiration. When everyone in the family and fellowship gives the utmost priority to knowing and doing the will of God, by giving God the ‘Fi...

“Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.8.18.nkjv The power of the gospel, being the central of God’s word to man, is here emphasized by the Lord Jesus Christ. When Apostle Paul elsewhere posited that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, his life and ministry with the testimony of salvation from the converts in Rome provide no little evidence of the potency of grace through the gospel. When the right chance is given a single dose of the gospel, grace brings a radical transformation in the radiance of the glory of God in man. God’s grace changes everything in a perceived worthless life into a preserved worthwhile life. Wherever on the social media, secular meetings and spiritual masses, God’s grace distinguishes the redeemed of the Lord for supernatural manifestation, if given the right chance.

“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.8.15.nkjv Instant goodies is more attractive to all sight assessors in any relationship. This is because there is no painful request for processing time before the feeling of goodness. Unfortunately, no one is guaranteed a lasting peace and joy in any relationship without an investment of time and confidence in the possibilities for a good end. Patience in relationships with God’s word is built on confidence and trust in eventual goodness, rather than in instant goodies. A good heart receives the promises of God on the value of grace rather than on its appreciable goodness. In all seasons of life either in dryness or freshness, God is good. Otherwise, no one is able to hold on to the promises of God in times of trials and tribulations, especially when heart keeps failing under the burde...

“Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.8.14.nkjv One of the dividends of a strategic denial of every indulgence of the flesh is a fruitful fellowship with God. Naturally, the flesh prefers the pleasures of life to perseverance in the Spirit. Whenever a man is surrounded by the thorns of frivolity and choked with cares, riches, and the pleasures of life, the heart becomes placid and fallow to the slightest call for spiritual mountaineering. However, those who dare to wait upon the Lord through fasting and prayer shall renew the strength and awaken their spiritual insights. No one can feel free to mess with the care of this life and expect to bring fruit to maturity at the same time. This is simply called fruitless fellowship!

“But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.8.13.nkjv For those whose relationship with the Lord has been or is being tried with divers temptations, sometimes it is difficult to clearly express the sweetness in the challenges of life to lovers of bread and butter relationships. No expression of commitment to any relationship is worthwhile until the desire to receive the pain of companionship with joy is ascertained. Although no one wish to celebrate it all joy the fellowship with trial and temptation, there is a deep root in the admonition to count it all joy when the righteous fall into temptation. Apostle James elsewhere appears to suggest that the root of patience as one of the dividends of temptation. Even though we cannot always understand why the storm is blowing hard, patience with the judgement of t...

“Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/114/luk.8.12.nkjv When a man is spared the evil of weeds in words, it is expected that a listening heart will be blessed. But Christ said that the portions of many at the trail of the winsome word of God are not so. Even when the ear receives the word of God, the heart may be blinded by the ways of men. Of what profit is the good word in the head, when a gutter word reside in the heart? The ear and the entire body can physically be seated in the pew and before the pulpit, while the heart is on an errand of business transactions, a chase of personal rights, and a negotiation of threatened privileges. Consequently, the love of all these naturally good pursuits of life becomes a licence for demonic manipulation of the heart of man. Whereas, it is possible for the body to be on a legitimate busine...