Heralds Digest

“And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.9.17.nkjv In times of hostility in relationships, it is often difficult to appreciate the inter-relationship between a decent vertical fellowship with God and the desirable horizontal fellowship with one another at home, workspaces and in the general fellowship of people. In spite of the famous and indecent hostility in fellowship between Saul and Christians prior to the arranged meeting of Saul and Ananias, it can be seen how love, peace, and unity was quickly expressed just because each party has had a fruitful fellowship with the Lord Jesus: “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy ...

“So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.9.6.nkjv One of the fond memories of elementary and probably high schoolers is the periodic composition of the common essay on “what is your future career ambition”? And by not necessarily a want of proper guidance, students often articulate career paths that are merely motivated by fantasies until a genuine assistance is discovered for purposeful pursuits. Prior to Saul’s encounter at the outskirts of his journey to Damascus, a clear career as a defender of the Jewish Religion was cut-out and passionately articulated. And by leveraging on the authority of the high priest, Paul appeared to have obtained the necessary and sufficient authority to back his articulated ambition in life. Unfortunately, an encounter with the Lord Jesus at this present duty post reveale...

“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...