Heralds Digest

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.1.8.nkjv When the people say absolute power corrupt absolutely, it is obvious that the power that lacks the influence of the Holy Spirit is being referenced. Although just barely recovered from the limit of the combination of Pilate and the Pharisees’ power on the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, the disciples haven’t fully resolved the perceived mixup between the intoxication of political power and the inspiration of the promised power. Unlike the Pilate, Pharisees, or the political power of this world, the promised power from God is not given for self advertisements; but rather given for kingdom expansion “...and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”. And in all of life’s waiting g...

“...to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.1.3.nkjv The devotions throughout the life and ministry of Jesus Christ before and after the passage of death underscore what should be regarded as the primary presentation of man. While the acquisition and presentation of skills, wealth, and the material things of this world undoubtedly represent the measure of human relevance on earth, the pursuit of the kingdom of God is the only justifiable essence of human existence. The consistency of Jesus’ after-death devotion on speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God appears to be the anchor that birthed the Acts of the Apostle in the early church. It implies that if today’s believers must justify the essence of their existence, we must begin to emphasize the things pertaining to the k...

And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues... And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16:17‭, ‬20 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mrk.16.17-20.NKJV When unbelief wears a new garment of faith, barriers to supernatural manifestations of God's power become the barrels or conduits of genuine signs and wonders. Unfortunately, the world is bereft of those who truly believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, especially when pseudo Christianity, political manipulations, and occultic bracado are wielded for a display of signs and wonders. Notwithstanding, true barrels of holiness and righteousness still possess the only power of the gospel and the mandate to preach everywhere (online or offline, home-front or workplaces, practices or principles, etc). Except when there is drainage problem in the barrels, the Lord ...

“Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.16.14.nkjv The experiences of the disappointed disciples of Jesus underscored the interdependence of the facts in past failure and the barriers to future fruitfulness in faith. The disciples’ memories of experiences leading to their present hideout constitutes a great barrier to future exercise of faith. It implies that, the arrest, suffering and the crucifixion of Jesus had created a huge wall of offence and loss of hope in the promises of God. With gradual accumulation of disappointment and failed experiences in life, a gentle graduation of unbelief to hardness of heart is possible. If the words of Jesus had suddenly appeared to be fruitless, how would anyone expect the disciples to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen? Likewise, o...

“And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.16.3-4.nkjv It is no longer news that the riches of grace and glory for believers in Christ are bought by the death and resurrection of the Lord. However, this was not the mindset on the fateful Sunday morning when Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome came to the tomb purposely for an advanced embalming of the body against decay. The passage of death had blocked the rational thinking in their minds against the feasibility of implementing the good intention: they had invested in the purchase of special spices for the assignment without resolving the passage concern “who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”. But when they looked up, the miracle had happened - the very large stone had been rolled away an...

“Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus....Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭15:43, 46‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.15.43,46.nkjv Dark day or hour represents the window of discouragement, disappointment and denial, often experienced and presented as part of the preparation for the coming bright day. Considering the fact that even Jesus cried out his dislike for such times “My God, My God; why have you forsaken me”, expression of sadness and discomfort in life’s moments of despair is not out of place. It took a great courage fromJoseph of Arimathea to single-handedly plan the burial of Jesus, especially when others are remotely struggling with their pains. Just like the darkness of d...

“Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭15:31-32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.15.31-32.nkjv Greatness is naturally believed to be derived from the ability to go great things; but here Jesus taught humanity that sometimes, greatness requires the ability to refuse to do great things. And like He turned down the temptation of the devil at the start of His earthly ministry, Jesus ignored the call to save Himself from the death on the cross. Anyone can call and wait upon the Lord for salvation from ugly situations and circumstances in life, especially when the ability and the capability for self-deliverance are out of reach. It takes a special grace and absolute surrendering to a purposeful course for anyone to refuse to walk away from dange...