Heralds Digest

“So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them...Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:24, 29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.4.24,29.nkjv Without absolute confidence in God, it is extremely impossible for anyone or group of people to speak with one voice in moments of threats. Threats promote instability and the tendencies of speaking with many mouths. Unfortunately, many words from many mouths promote manifold confusions with little or no comfort. But when the assembled disciples heard the story of threatening of the chief priests, the elders and scribes from Peter and John, they “raised their voice to God with one accord...”. It is obvious that their miracle and victory started with the coordination of many mouths to speak with one voice and in one accord. The aim of crisi...

“But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:19-20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.4.19-20.nkjv Without the challenge of conflict of interest in life’s engagements at home, workplaces, and society, acting right will be simple and straightforward. However, it is almost impossible to establish a singular concept of righteousness in a system composed of people that are not truly governed by the same principles and purpose in life. After the strategy of threatening Peter and John with confinement failed, the religious people here attempted the strategy of censoring their speech and regulating their allegiance to the commandments of the Lord, which says “Go ye..and preach the gospel (Jesus)”. Anybody is free to decide what is right in today’s system; but God has the final say in the court of heaven. Unfortunately, c...

“And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”...Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:7, 12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.4.7,12.nkjv The memory of the walls of the court of the high priests, where Jesus was arraigned before His condemnation to the Cross, would still be fresh. Although the intimidation, fear, and the instability of mind that led to the denial of Jesus was equally fresh, a new wine is now brewing confidence and boldness in the heart. Even the priests, elders, rulers, and scribes asked the arrested Peter and John the simple question “By what power or by what name have you done this?”; not because they were ignorant of the answer. They strongly believed in the weapon of intimidation and the ease of compromise for unstable minds. Unfortunately, they met with their greatest surprise in the responses from the ...

“And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.3.16.nkjv Empirical prescription of solution to problems requires a step by step outlining of the methodology. But since complex problems would need complex methodology, the thought of presenting ideas to complex problems is sometimes demoralizing. When everyone has given up ideas toward finding solution to the problem of the lame man at the beautiful gate, a sound solution was prescribed by Peter and John: faith in the name of Jesus Christ. As sound as this solution to the immaterial scale and the irrelevant size of problems in life, the complication in the methodology is often the acceptance of the prescribed simple faith by everyone. Notwithstanding, messed up life and ugly circumstances in today’s complex world still find a reliable ...

“Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.3.6.nkjv The major source of disappointment, discouragement, and depression in life is the human apt for looking at fellow human as the custodian of provision, promotion and progress. Since what the impotent man at the beautiful gate expected to receive from Peter and John were alms, his expectations would probably have turned deadly with great disappointment if the Apostles had turned out to be equally impotent of the power in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Likewise today, how life is prepared to handle failed expectations, like “Silver and gold I do not have”, explains the soundness of its hope. A deadly look at the challenges of life do not just mourn failed attempts, it sacrifices the opportunities in future attempts. Whereas, a lively look is always on the look out for “but what ...

“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common...praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:44, 47‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.2.44,47.nkjv The main problem of today’s church could be traced to the complexity with who is responsible for the sorting of the alleged ‘Christians’ from the world into the church. When the scriptures posited here that, at the early church, ‘the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved’, it simply means that the Holy Spirit is responsible for sorting the called out Saints. Receiving the word and realigning with the ways of the church are commendable; but until the Lord add those who were being saved to the church, they are simply referred to as ‘church-goers’ and not Christians. Little wonder there are always challenges and struggles with the call on the supposed peculiar people of God to live daily for the praising of God an...

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:37-38‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.2.37-38.nkjv Without bible references, access to documentaries, and google search, Simon provided an unprepared speech at the day of Pentecost. Needless to mention that it was actually the Spirit’s sermon and not Simon’s speech. Citations of references from Joel and Psalms without the privilege of scriptures searches was simply made possible by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Little wonder the 3,000 audiences were convicted and converted under the unprepared sermon. And many other contemporary preachers and teachers of the gospel message have given the right of access to the delivery of the Spirit’s sermon, with the ...