Heralds Digest

“Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭8:29-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.8.29-30.nkjv Discouragement towards consistent engagements on the field, within the fellowship and in the family is mostly due to lack of effectiveness, rather than due to the want of interest. As the heart reflects on the cause of fruitless engagements in the passing year, the experience of Phillip towards effective engagement of the Ethiopian eunuch with the gospel of Jesus Christ will undoubtedly offer a useful inspiration. Being led to the desert by the will of God, instead of embarking on a mission to decent neighbourhood by the intelligence of man, Phillip obeyed the Spirit’ instruction to engage the chariot without querying the intention. Even today, obedience to the Spirit’ instruction for focused engagement of the people along the path...

“And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭8:18-19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.8.18-19.nkjv Traditionally, while kids anticipate the unwrapping of ‘boxed’ gifts under the Christmas tree on Boxing Day, adults will probably begin to reflect on the realization or otherwise of divers expectations from the beginning of the year. The reality remains the fact that many thirst in life are not meant to be conceived, needless to mourn about their non-realization. For example, the thirst for the baptism of the Holy Spirit by Simon was ill-conceived for self-gratification, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit”. Likewise by reflecting on the various unrealized milestones in the fast-going year, the genuine question must be “how align is the motive ...

“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them...And there was great joy in that city.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭8:5, 8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.8.5,8.nkjv The major misconception about Christmas is its symbolic replacement with Xmas - i.e., the cancellation of Christ in exchange of music, amusement, and stories. Whether through vacation or staycation, accumulated resources are mostly expended to buy a seemingly worthwhile Xmas. This offers a celebration of fake joy without the true experience of the true joy. Whereas, the scattered Phillip embarked on the journey to Samaria as persecuted saint; and yet he caused a great joy in the city. It implies that the generation and celebration of joy is not dependent on any season; but rather the genuine preaching of Christ. When Christ truly lives within and given the true right of expression, every journey at all seasons into the life’s affairs of people without brings nothing but great joy.

“But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:55‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.7.55.nkjv Considering the glorious experience of Stephen in the hands of the aggrieved elders and religious leaders, it is obvious that a sustainable escape from the troubles of men, grievous offences, and the fellowship with provocation is the fullness of the Holy Spirit at all times. Notwithstanding, even when many believers would readily reserve this glorious experience for those who are ready to depart this sinful world like Stephen, it is obvious that only those who have learnt how to disallow the troubles of this world from tarnishing the mark of holiness and righteousness (like Paul probably learnt at Stephen’s gate of glory) hold the key to the throne of grace. Like Paul latter shared with the Corinthian Church, consistent turning to the Lord in supplication and constant meditation on His words...

““ You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you....who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it. ”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:51, 53‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.7.51,53.nkjv The scale between the experience of being stiff-necked and being soft-hearted has metric complexity. However, the journey between the two ends of the scale is simple and straightforward. Stephen had taken time to illustrate the trajectory of disobedience and resistance to the commandments of the Lord with the fathers before coming down with sharp-pointed rebuke of the religious leaders for the same complications through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Likewise today, the litmus test to measuring the state on the scale between stiff and soft heart remains the humble response or harsh resistance to the words of the Lord. Through a simple familiarity to the statement of the scriptures, the ears of the stiff-necke...

““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...