Heralds Digest

“Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness...And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:18, 22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.13.18,22.nkjv The search for fresh wine with good taste requires more then pressing. Planting, pruning, patience and perseverance are imperative before the pressing of fresh and flavoured wine out of good grapes. In Paul’s words of exhortation to the synagogue people of Antioch in Pisidia, he presented the patience, perseverance and the Price in the search for good grapes in man. Likewise today, good grapes in any relationship requires patience, perseverance and the price of submission and/or understanding. Particularly in marriages where a long-lasting heartthrobs are desirable, finding a man or woman with good heart cannot start with the desire fo...

“Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:9-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.13.9-10.nkjv In a subtle strategy against boredom in ministries, comedy, fun and fairs have proven to attract the attention of many visitors or tourists in God’s assemblies. It is observed that messages with allusion to Wall Street, International diplomacy and its consequent impacts on national security, and the performance assessment of political gladiators will readily engage parishioners, rather than the undiluted teaching of the word of God. Bar-Jesus’ assignment in the days of Paul’s ministrations to Sergius Paulus was not in any way different from the deployment of fun and fairs in line with today’s modern day style of entertainment in ministry. However, Paul and with help ...

“As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.13.2.nkjv Sometimes, it is difficult for ministers of the Lord to admit the fact that the most important concerns in ministry are not necessarily the messages nor the methods, but the Master. Without an acceptable fellowship with the Master, both messages and methods can be easily misconstrued as self-serving and not acceptable service to the Lord. Barnabas and Saul have been fruitfully engaged in ministry prior to this day of higher calling; but it is noteworthy that this present calling was inspired by a deeper fellowship with the Lord. When ministers of the Lord chose to run perpetually on the strength of old messages and methods, it is obvious that higher calling and clarification in ministry are risked at the least. Those who desire to be continually engaged in the service of the ...

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark. Acts 12:25 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/act.12.25.NKJV Ministry is always about mission and the fulfillment of God-given outreaches to the people on the field. Whereas, under the brutality of Herod, the mission strategies to people in needs in the city of Jerusalem appear to suffer some setbacks. But when the people gathered to pray, it turned out that there was actually no problem with their ministry methods. Starting a worthwhile mission in life, and according to the will of God, is great; but seeing the need to persevere, pray, and preach the wholesome word of God in the face of persecution is more commendable. "And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry". There shouldn't be any problem with the proposed strategies for fruitfulness and fulfillment in all God-given ministries,...

And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. Acts 12:22‭-‬23 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/act.12.22-23.NKJV Shyness in giving praise and an appetite for taking praise are two sides of the same coinage, known as pride. As exemplified by Herod, he was furiously angry with the people that was seen as careless to the source of his praise; but he was frivolously excited by the reception of those who covet his mercy with praise singing. Because praise is comely only to God, praise-giving is generally free. Meanwhile, praise-taking is costly. The Giver of life is only worthy of all praise in every human engagement and the resultant achievements. Unfortunately, in pursuit of prize (pride), most people are offered praise; but very few people are conscious of the price.

“And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭12:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.12.11.nkjv Although “Impossible is nothing” and “Nothing is impossible” are literally the same, they are realistically not the same without an absolute exercise of the prayer power. Even in the parlance of faith, there are different scales of possibilities with different personalities and problems. Sometimes, long-standing problems and difficulties are readily left unperturbed for a peaceful devotion on the faith that keeps fire on the prayer altars. Whereas, impossibility and importunity are two sides of the same coin of the “prayer works” conviction. And when Peter came to realize the power of an importunate prayer by the Church, he testified that there is no such thing as impossible mountain called intoxicated Herod or incrimina...

And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Acts 12:3 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/act.12.3.NKJV Most times, the unruly exercise of authority and the misuse of positions represents an indirect expression of the problem of approval syndrome. Like the appeal for political approval led Herod into an aggressive persecution of Christians or the Apostles of Christ, many are often ignorant of their loss of pride in self-identity. Every action and inaction of man that is motivated by a misplacement of pleasing someone else, at the expense of the will of God, is a loss of proper identity and the purpose for living. If Herod had understood the divine purpose for occupying the political office, he would have disregarded the search for approval appeal from the Jews. No one can overspend in a search for the security in divine approval, especially when the penalty for the approval appeal from man leave...