Heralds Digest

“For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:37‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.22.37.nkjv Just a moment ago, the disciples of the. Lord Jesus Christ had enjoyed an evangelistic outreach without giving attention to sustenance and security. But now, Jesus admonished them to out with reasonable investment in safety apparatus and food. It was the season of hostilities and insecurities, especially for the Saviour and the end of His earthly ministry. Notwithstanding, Jesus was not caught unprepared to take challenge with absolute dependence on the will of God. Likewise, life’s activities are designed to take a different dimension on regular basis. However, partnership with God for guidance brings relief over the challenges at home, workplaces and in the fellowship of God, even when leveraging on human discretion appears attractive.

“But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:33-34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.22.33-34.nkjv It is not all who backtracked on their promises and commitment in life that can be accused of insincerity. For example, Peter was simply sincere about his readiness to go with Jesus both to prison and to death; but his readiness was simply unreliable. Following through a sincere commitment to good life, relationships, and service to humanity is not entirely up to the person making the commitment. Just as in the case of Peter, almost all events in human life, career, family and ministry are subject to the scriptural declaration “Satan has asked of you, that he may shift you as wheat”. Unfortunately, heads rolled, fortunes are destroyed, and great ambitions are evacuated when no one is willing to stand in the ...

“But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves...that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:26, 30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.22.26,30.nkjv Many are very clear about the fact that the bane of development in most developing systems of the world is the misconception about the purpose of leadership. When leadership position is conceived as an opportunity to sit rather serve, a misplacement of priority, leading to the accumulation of privileges rather than the development of the system, cannot be mistaken. When the disciples of Jesus Christ should have been concerned about the anticipated vacuum in leadership if truly he gets betrayed and arrested, they strangely became disturbed by the vanity from leadership. Surely, there are privileges attached to leadership positions; but these privileges are provided to en...

“But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:21-22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.22.21-22.nkjv Friendship is literally attracted by bread advantage; but when serious commitment is required to keep friendship intact in the face of threat to bread, blood covenant is introduced. Judah Iscariot and other chosen Apostle have no doubt maintained a close friendship with Jesus Christ, representing a model of friendship that could thrive above any threat to bread advantage. Obviously, the betrayal by Judah was painful not because of any loss of freedom due to the act of betrayer. It was painful because of the loss of friendship with the actor in the betrayal. Now, believers in Christ are bought into friendship with the blood of Jesus Christ. The longer in the friendship anticipates intimacy and the sweetness of service. Unfortunately, worldliness or fr...

“Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:11-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/114/luk.22.11-12.nkjv Without sharing the sentiment in ‘The Rich Also Cry’, students of financial and wealth management will sometimes relate the trouble with the implications of hedging of funds, derivatives, and the uneasiness of risks in the financial market. But when the scriptures declare that the blessing of God makes rich without the complimentary addition of sorry, it suggests the possibilities of enjoying God’s provision in life without the sacrifice of human’s rest of mind. Demonstrated by the provision of the guest room and all the service materials for the Passover, neither the attention of Jesus Christ nor the retention of any of His disciples was necessary in divine economy and management. Sometimes, when...

“And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:2-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/luk.22.2-3.nkjv The plot and prayer of the chief priests and the scribes at the feast of Passover clearly demonstrated the power of a sincere search. When Jesus said elsewhere ‘For everyone who ask receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened’, He sincerely and widely meant ‘everyone’, irrespective of whether the object in the search is good or bad. Just as the chief priests and scribes sought ‘bad’ sincerely and the search empowered Satan to employ Judas Iscariot as available accomplice, everyone who sought ‘good’ sincerely has ever received the desire of his heart. It implies that insincerity is the problem of unanswered prayer in believers’ life. While bad sincerity empowered Satan, good sincerity in life is solely inspired ...

““But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly...Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭21:34, 36‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/114/luk.21.34,36.nkjv Those who have the privilege of watching over other people, especially at home, workplaces, the fellowship of like precious faith, and including own children know how easy it is to unconsciously throw caution into the wind. If the heart is intoxicated with either strong drinks or the over-possessing influences on other people on the ‘dos’ and ‘donts’ according to St. Right instead of the prayerful influence of the word of God, would it really matter to God if the offender is believer or unbeliever? Therefore, in order to keep the sensitivity of the hearts of His disciples alive, Jesus admonished all who care fo...