Heralds Digest

““This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.7.35.nkjv While the people of Israel would hardly move away from the celebrations of the visit of Moses, they hardly move into understanding the true source of the visit. And when Stephen was accused of moving to change the custom delivered by the visit of Moses, he was moved to underscore the fact that the visit by God is actually the main deliverance link. Even when Moses initially moved to visit his people ahead of God’s visit, he ended up with the unfortunate banishment from the people of his purpose in life for 40 years. Unfortunately, people often dare to manipulate the appearances of their visits in life and ministry without waiting for the genuine encounter with God. Whereas, and in a subtle response of Stephen, making changes to any legac...

““And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:9-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.7.9-10.nkjv Unto Joseph, living and growing up in the secured Shechem was synonymous to the craving for job security, smart selection of prosperity, promotion, and position in life at the expense of purpose. Equally, Stephen would probably have preserved (and avoid the risk of) his newly-found assignment as deacon in the logistics office of the early church, if he had ignored the private and purposeful call of the great commission. And like Joseph, when Stephen became sold-out into the world of envy in service, he never lost sight of the prospect of God’s presence, in compromise of the promises from men. Sold-out saints in today’s corporate, social and institutional world wou...

“Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.7.8.nkjv Separation from the fear of the unknown in life, family and ministry requires faith in the living God. Whereas, confidence in the provision and preservation through the system of this world demands separation from faith in and fellowship with God. When Stephen was asked “Are these things so”? The logical response to an obvious threat to his continual protection, provision and preservation through the council in his world would have been a straightforward “No!”. But then, he started his response with a sermon on his motivation for opting for a separation from the world of sin like Abraham did. Obviously, when any man does finally respond to the call of separation by faith in God, he ceases to respond to the calls from his senses through the fear in ...

“And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭6:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.6.15.nkjv It is understandable why those who struggle and faintly cope with the distractions from the external influences around them may not qualify as the channels of positive influence at the same time. Therefore, it is natural to expect the management of the stresses of life with frown and frustrated faces. However, when Stephen was faced with harsh opposition, hired false accusers, got forcefully arrested and brought to the council, he was found with the face as the face of an angel. Whereas, it is always easier to blame the expression of failure, frustration and fierce disposition on the unfriendly influences of people and partners at home, workplaces, and the society where we are called to function. The truth is, external influences will matter most when a man has not been fully conquered within by the influence of the Holy ...

“Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.6.3.nkjv Services are naturally the expected duties of every human being. Therefore, services at workplaces, homes, societies, and religious assemblies are easily tempted to depend only on the servants’ administrative skills and intelligence. But when the Apostles set out the need of the Holy Spirit as one of the requirements for serving of tables, good leaders are cautioned against the possibility of sentiments, selfishness, and superfluity in service calling. If the word of God, and not the ideas of men, must increase in the people’s life and ministry, there must be no little service without the need for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. No one can truly serve the people for God alone without totally enabling the service of people with God’s Spirit.

“And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭5:38-39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.5.38-39.nkjv The flamboyancy, affluence, and competition arising from human activities and achievements often drive away the concentration on the ultimate purpose for human existence - the engagement in things that are of God. Whereas, life’s engagements in things that are of men will quickly fade away. In Gamaliel’s words of wisdom to his fellow priests, engagements of life in things that are of men are self-disruptive. These engagements do not worth the ultimate attention of those who are focused on the things that are of God. Unfortunately, many believers and disciples are devoted to life, professional, and career paths against the revealed will of God, driving in circles until they are driven out of c...

“And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭5:27-29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.5.27-29.nkjv The wrath of the council is permitted as a rod of correction against civil disobedience. Even when the law of the land and the rule of law are supreme, the consequences of civil disobedience are often blind to righteous reasonings and innocent intentions. Without the possibility of conflict of interest between the commandments of God and the instruction from men, blindness to human intention in every case will be acceptable. Unfortunately, real life affairs in family, fellowship, field and firms are interwoven with myriads of conflicts in the interest of partie...