Heralds Digest

““However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest?” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:48-49‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.7.48-49.nkjv The significant similarity between the mobile tabernacle of witness in the wilderness and the magnificent tabernacle of the wiseman in Jerusalem is the “making it according to the pattern shown by God”. Invariably, the presence of the Lord is inspired by obedience to the pattern in His commandments. And in the New Testament dispensation, the pursuit of the performance of the will of God in the affairs of man will always represent commitment to the true tabernacle. Even though man may be committed to the process of developing efficient systems, operational methods, and technologies; God is always concerned about the building of man that reflects His glory and righteousness. And when the heart of man...

““This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us, whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt,” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:38-39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.7.38-39.nkjv Having presented the faithfulness of God in the preparation and presentation of Moses for the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, Stephen exposed the unfaithfulness of Israel in following the living God. Summarily, fake followers admire celebrity with their heads and not hearts. Whereas, faithful followers love Christ with their hearts and hands. And to those who pride in the celebration of the customs and institutions delivered by Moses’ commitments to physical freedom from Egypt without interest in the fulfillment of God’s plan for total freedom from sin, the religious leaders in the days of Stephen can clearly see the posited entanglement w...

““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.