Heralds Digest

“This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭14:9-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.14.9-10.nkjv Finding either faith or frustration out of life’s weakening situation and circumstances is here revealed as a choice rather than destiny. Instead of focusing on his frog feet, the crippled man exhibited faith in the invisible God for healing and deliverance. Either occasioned by the action of man or inherited, as it were, from the mother’s womb, the frog feet experiences of life naturally brings frustration and furious disposition. But when the crippled man was noted by Paul, it was difficult for Paul to be distracted from him. Unfortunately, we often allow our frog feet to focus on what our fellow men have either done or do not do to keep us in frustration in life. Meanwhile, when our frog feet cannot see the invisible Father ...

“they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭14:6-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.14.6-7. What could possibly have happened if the positive effects of evil occurrences in life are accurately aggregated and presented to man ahead of time? Obviously, there would be less complaints about evils, little or no blame game, no mistreatments of anyone’s intentions, and the concept of ‘breakthrough’ will simply be known as ‘blind-through’. When the Apostles became aware of the intending escalation of the Jewish evil machinery, the knowledge merely brought an escape from Iconium instead of protection from evil. So, they could not continue their good works among the brethren in Iconium. Whereas, God had a positive effect of the evils in Iconium on their outreaches in other places, starting from Lystra and Derbe. Invariably, breakthrough in life is a one-sided blind on the pr...

“Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭14:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.14.3.nkjv The experience of the Apostles in Iconium reminds believers about the difference between the concern of “going fast” and the concept of “going far” in life. The drive towards “going fast” is concerned about getting whatever is considered a desirable need ‘fast’, particularly without abiding by the rules. Whereas, the conviction in “going far” is more interested in ensuring the pain of keeping to the rules in order to stay ‘far’ on the ultimate promises of the Lord. However, speaking boldly in these promises from the Lord requires courage. Like the resistance faced by the Apostles on the field of work, especially when the experiences of life appear to consistently box man’s novel ideas into unproductive corners, there would be an attractive temptati...

“On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:44-45‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.13.44-45.nkjv When believers’ works and ways are maliciously attacked by the wicked works and ways in the world, it is mostly difficult to avoid the temptation of taking the actions of men personal. Unknowingly, believers’ persecution greatly affect the fruitful passage of the words of God more than the influence on their personal feelings. When the words of God were preached with absolute focus on the expression of the will of God by Paul, multitude were attracted to listen. Even when the envy-generated actions of the Jews in Antioch appeared to come in the way, the joy of the Lord and the influence of the Holy Spirit preserved the effectiveness of His words in the hearts of the people. If believers’ work...

“Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:40-41‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.13.40-41.nkjv Spiritually-discerned people merely understand that almost all physical occurrences in life have been previously decided in the spirit realms. But in Paul’s exhortation about the life, earthly ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, he carefully presented the scriptural understanding about the written and fulfilled works. Just as it happened to Jesus, the written will of God are fulfilled by men, irrespective of their understanding. It implies that there is always no accident in all actions and inaction of man. Man must either pursue the will of God in life or be a fulfillment of the negative actions of self and/or others. Therefore, it is wisdom to know what are daily writte...

“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 ...