Heralds Digest

“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭10:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.10.1-2.nkjv If there is anything more expedient for sustaining a worthwhile 2020 vision, it should be the grace for a frequent fellowship with God and the people of purpose. Even without the knowledge and experience of salvation from sin and deliverance from dead works, the caesarean centurion - Cornelius - sustained a memorial of prayers to God and alms to the people. It is sometimes easier for many to start with an observation of fellowship with either God or man on a note of spare time, talent or treasure. Whereas, in spite of Cornelius’ elevated position among the people, He consistently combined his resources and coordinated his household towards a frequent fellowship with both God and man. Th...

“Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.9.31.nkjv The healing of Aeneas in Lydda and the raising of Dorcas from the death in Joppa demonstrated the fruitfulness in faithful fellowship. Being fully awoken from the fruitless dispensation of faithless fellowship, the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria reportedly had peace and were edified. Likewise the New Year and Decade promises New Discovery of fruitfulness; but with faithful fellowship with God and His ministers for establishment and prosperity. Therefore, either to the sick Aeneas or to the dead Tabitha, Peter simply said ‘Arise’ and they arose as a practical demonstration of faithful fellowship with Jesus Christ. Without doubt, believers are bound to discover the amazing manifestation of the power and wonders of God...

“And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple...So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:26, 28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.9.26,28.nkjv One of the bane of fruitless fellowship at home, workplaces and among business associates is not necessarily a lack of taste; but mostly a lack of trust or faith. Just as it is much more easier to demolish a built edifice compared to the long process of design and development, trust is more easier to destroy than build. Notwithstanding, Calvary offers a lasting solution for all strained, segregated and severed relationships, like it does for Saul of Tarsus in Jerusalem. Where Calvary is involved in any relationship, parties can most certainly take a break from the “once beaten, twice shy” syndrome. Unfortunately, those who find little or no healing from an “arms length relationship” in the fellowship of like-p...

“But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:22-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.9.22-23.nkjv Since fruitfulness in fellowship is synonymous to freedom of expression, unfruitfulness in fellowship often wears the regalia of forcefulness. Immediately after the switch in fellowship by Saul due to his conversion to Christianity, the Jews became confounded by Saul’s increase in strength and productivity in the ministry to the extent of plotting to terminate his life. Considering the resemblance of the principle of forceful fellowship in both private and public affairs, it is better to always emphasize the fruitfulness in free fellowship than the unfruitfulness in forceful fellowship. Unfortunately, believers are often tempted to overstretch theirs boundaries in an effort to attract people into their circles of practices ...

“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...