Heralds Digest

““I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:11-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.2.11-12.nkjv It is one thing for anyone in life to boast of the possession of properties and privileges. The other and most important of all is the possession of the potential to perform and the right of procession. The paralytic who was carried by four men to Jesus had his own house, but he did not possess the potential to walk through and explore the privileges of a home. Likewise, life’s experiences and exigencies have the capabilities of rendering many with houses homeless, myriads with properties peaceless, and multitude with clothings comfortless. Unfortunately, a struggling man is rendered impotent, paralytic, and unreliable until he can indentify the ability to turn a house into a home, produ...

“Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Mark‬ ‭1:40-41‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.1.40-41.nkjv When constantly confronted with long-standing challenges in life, sometimes it is difficult to affirm the standing will for personal, family and societal breakthrough. Like the leprous effects, certain problems in life restrict human access to the possible source of solution by the nature of the available opportunity for redemption. But instead of giving up, the leper in the days of Jesus explored Him, implored Him, kneeled down to Him, and conversed with Him for divine intervention. More importantly, the impressive attitude of the leper is the sacred respect for the absolute will of Jesus towards his deliverance from leprosy. Above the personal will for freedom from the lon...

“When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:37-38‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.1.37-38.nkjv The passion for celebrity is driven by nothing more than the ability to attract the populace to one’s personal engagement, including blog, business, and banners. Therefore, when Jesus became unexcited by the comment “Everyone is looking for You”, it was clear that there is something wrong with popularity-driven passion. At a particular time, Jesus left the popular Capernaum for the purposeful Galilee apparently because he realized the need to align with God’s purpose after one of His regular sessions of quiet time and early morning devotion. Unfortunately, the romance with popularity, celebrity and the fashion of this world will rob anyone of the zeal to pursue the seeking of the kingdom of God and the enlargement of t...

“Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.1.27.nkjv Wherever the attention of leadership at home, workplace, and the society appears unauthorized, there is bound to be retaliatory elements of forceful engagement and fearless expressions of speech. Oftentimes, expressions of frustration exchanges the unclean speeches and the vulgar languages of parties without the slightest attention to the spirit behind all the unclean actions. Even in supposed sane environment like the synagogues, Jesus had a running battle with deep-seated unclean spirits. Instead of challenging the unclean actions of members of the congregation, Jesus authorized the attention of the unclean spirits. And it was when the unclean spirits had been banished that the lives of members of the congregation can be st...

“Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:17-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.1.17-18.nkjv Fans of any sporting club are proud followers of club activities, especially when the club is responding to their interests and intelligence. Otherwise, powerful but frustrated fans can be a torn in the flesh of club’s management strategies. Whereas, faithful followers of the Lord cannot indulge in frustration, no matter the path the Master choose to lead the way. When Jesus called each of His disciples, He said “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men”. The responsibility to faithfully follow Jesus does not necessarily include the disciples’ reliability after following. While catching the fishes, funds and fellowship of the world requires the tools and intelligence of men, becoming fishers of men for the glory of God alone requires the gifts of the Spirit that comes onl...

“Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:12-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.1.12-13.nkjv By comparing the account of the temptation of Jesus Christ by Satan by both St. Matthew and St. Mark, anyone can understand the major import of wilderness experience: for wild and not for wafers. While the scriptures clearly clarify that God is not the Architect of temptation in believers’ life, the indispensable wilderness experience before a distinguished engagement in ministry or major assignment in life is always the harbour of evil, wickedness, and temptation from Satan. Either taken by St. Matthew on the intent of being tempted by Satan or perceived by St. Mark on the intent of being inspired by the Spirit, the fact remains that God allowed the wilderness experience for proper preparation for fruitful engagements in Christ’s m...

“And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:10-11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.1.10-11.nkjv When a forerunner assignment was assigned to John, many can rightly assume the assignment will be plagued with lack of enthusiasm. But John the Baptist accepted the call with great enthusiasm, even preaching “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose”(verse 7). Unfortunately, many divinely-assigned responsibilities and ministries at home, fellowship and society are easily abused by the passion for power instead of the pursuit of purpose. But by staying on his ministry, John got the approval of God, and better than the commendation of fellow men, by the parting of heaven and the descending of the Holy Spirit upon the Lord Jesus Christ during one of h...