Heralds Digest

““O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/bible/114/luk.13.34.nkjv Although Jerusalem is central to God’s plan of redemption, the will of the Lord is the salvation of the entire world from the captivity of sin. Being the sacrificial Lamb in the plan of redemption, Jesus started the redemption ministry by first reaching out unto His own with the wayfaring will. It is the aspect where man’s consent is absolutely necessary for the release of freedom to captives from sin and satanic oppression. Unfortunately, just as Jesus was confronted with the strange will in His kinsmen, the principle of the wayward will is prevalent in many who are conscious of the wayfaring will of God today. Knowing the will of God in life, family, career, and ministry is one thing; but doing ...

“They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:29-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.13.29-30.nkjv Knowledge seeking for policy formulation without the commensurate striving spirit for policy implementation is a recognized expensive culture of under-development in the business of life. Either at home stand or along the street walk, when Jesus was noticed to be fully engaged in the business of the kingdom of God, One was curious to ask if head knowledge is a sufficient requirement for heaven. Of course, the response of Jesus was not welcomed by the Pharisees, who have mastered the art of searching for policy formulation without the aim of striving for policy implementation. Heaven is the abode of the Holy God and all who seek to live eternally with Him cannot afford to mess around with the only requirement of holines...

“And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:20-21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/bible/114/luk.13.20-21.nkjv Rehabilitation of the old habits and bad attitude in the fallen man has developed more scientific methodology with proven records of human reformation. It shows that influences of positive words from stable fellow men to unstable individuals does have positive effects on human behaviours. However, without the influence of the Spirit of God in the life of man, total transformation of the fallen man is impossible. This is because a good act of reformation can only correct the broken relationship between fellow men. Only the Spirit’s transformation can amend the broken relationship between God and man. Therefore, Jesus appeared to enlighten the religious leaders and Pharisees in His listening audience with a better understanding of the influence of ...

“Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:18-19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/bible/114/luk.13.18-19.nkjv Infertility in life is simply the consequence of the fall of man from grace to grass. It is the reflection of the emptiness of man without God. And when life’s treasure, time and talents are invested on fallow grounds, it doesn’t take long for anyone to understand the frustration of life’s operations outside the influence of the grace of God. Like Jesus did when He considered the plights of the multitude, anyone can the feel the pity and the helplessness of a fallen man on the fallows fields of life. Therefore, He offered a simple promotion of the kingdom of God as the solution for those who care to take it. “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?.....

“While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” Then the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it. ”” ‭‭I Kings‬ ‭20:40‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/bible/114/1ki.20.40.nkjv Like Ahab did with Ben-hadad, many people cannot see the problem with every good and profitable business proposition. Whereas, it turns out that good economic decision does not necessarily translate into great eternity-conscious disposition. But the common query (especially when it appears the need for material blessings constantly intimidate a supposed focus on the pursuit of the will of God) is “Does God really care less about the earthly prosperity of the righteous?”. No, of course; but just that the order of interest must be spiritual prosperity before material prosperity (since a dead soul cannot enjoy any prosperity...3 John 1:2). Unlike just a busy business, only blessed business brings true and sustainable prosperity to the soul of man.

“But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/bible/114/luk.13.12.nkjv It is one thing to commend the location of the woman with infirmity when her Helper called, it is another thing to appreciate the leading and compassion of the Helper Jesus Christ. Unlike the focus of the Pharisees on the rituals of Sabbath, Jesus did not only teach in the synagogue; He touched the helpless woman with the healing hands. By the end of the day, it appears the main message received by the multitude is the mercy of God through the dissemination of helpless’ Helper into the life and affairs of the people. Just like the Pharisees’ attitude to the plight of the helpless was condemned as hypocritical, many positioned helpers in life are often dispositioned by insensitivity and the exigencies of busy lifestyle. Whereas, believers are called to be helpless’ helpers in our self-centred world. And wh...

“And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:2-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/bible/114/luk.13.2-3.nkjv Self-centered living can hardly revolve the benefits of the gift of life beyond the interest of self. Even the relevance of other people’s life is considered a waste, as long as their selfish and personal interest appears overlooked. When the Pharisees reported the waste of the Galileans as justification of their self-righteous theology, it showed that they completely missed the universal call of God unto repentance. God gave everyone the breathe of life in order for all to live to show forth His glory with a revolving purpose of living. And He daily looks for fruits from the gift of life. Whereas, a self-centred life daily demands for continual supply of favour rather than bring forth frui...