Heralds Digest

“Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭10:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.10.23.nkjv On the D-Day, and by an insight of the scriptures, we know that Peter embarked on a journey from Joppa to Caesarea with a team of at least nine people according to the will of God. Otherwise, the day would have been presumably started with the normal delights in whatever good adventure, pleasure, and engagement it brings. And one of the awful but sincere feelings of any day is the anxiety surrounding the possible ignorance of what each brand new day of a man’s life would bring. Whereas, the trip from Joppa to Caesarea for Peter and his team holds an exception to any anxiety in facing the challenges against every day’s engagements. Since there are several revelation of divine instructions to parties both in Caesarea and Joppa preceding the D-Day, it was difficult for anyone among the concer...

“And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭10:15-16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.10.15-16.nkjv Just as expected in believers relationships with God, fruitful relationships in the family are inspired by intimacy, trust and respect for other parties’ potentials without hard recourse to personal performance. Without submission to the value and virtue of family fellowship, Peter wouldn’t have accepted the call of the Father to step out of his comfort zone. And by insisting on “I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean” like Peter, relationships (either between husband and wife, or between parents and children) in homes strictly on hard boundaries around material things and individual performances, and with little or no compromises on the trust and respect for the personality of parties, are likely to hit the rock. When God sue...

“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 ...