Heralds Digest

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭ 17:30 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.17.30.nkjv     The major challenge with all religious observances is the establishment of a fruitful relationship with the invisible God. Besides the demand for faith in order to clear all doubts, intimate relationship with God requires a sincere letting down of the intentional garb of ignorance against the omnipotence in the Creator of heaven and earth. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul on the Areopagus had to draw the attention of the Athenians to the fact that it takes an insightful creation of philosophy in the mind of any Atheist, freethinker, and religious fanatic to wear off the confronting conviction about the existence of the true God and His righteousness. Even those who struggle with the call to holiness and righteousness as free gifts arising from believers’ relationship with God need a religious cove...

“For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭ 17:21 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.17.21.nkjv   Unlike the Berea-minded believers, the Athenians have interest only in the knowledge of every new thing but a passive disposition to the potency of anything. Having the knowledge of God but denying the power of His influence in life makes a perfect description of the Athenian philosophers. Whereas, the holy scriptures present the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation for all who are willing to go beyond the head knowledge disposition. There is the power to save, heal and deliver anyone from the bondage of darkness, if faith enables the turning of passive philosophies into active anticipation of the power of the Cross.

“These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭ 17:11 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.17.11.nkjv   In spite of the amazing opportunities from today’s advancement in technology and quick access to information, the destiny of man is fast negatively-influenced by evil-concealed opinions of developers of social media, technological innovations, and barrages of online materials. Just like the malfunctioning of a system after the invasion of an aggressive virus, human minds can hardly understand the true meaning of divine purpose for human existence after invasion by worldly contents. Notwithstanding, the Holy Bible remains the precious treasure concealed with the potentials for discovery of promises and purpose for human existence. And only the attitude demonstrated by the Berea brethren can find the right way to true living. Fo...

“But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.17.6.nkjv     The ability to live differently from the culture and customs of a system shackled by unrighteousness cannot be found in books and religious observances. Although light may mostly be misconstrued as the presence of luminescence, it is actually the absence of darkness. When the scriptures declare that darkness cannot comprehend light, it provides comfort and understanding for the children of the light, who must suffer consistent persecution from the children of darkness in this world. Even when we express concerns for the security of the persecuted saints on the basis of assessing the privilege to extend the kingdom of God, crucified Christians exert no right of living where they can no longer turn the world upside down for the glory ...

“Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:2-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.17.2-3.nkjv   A fuzzy picture of the reason for the suffering and crucifixion of Christ will always undermine the faith of believers in the promise of reigning with Him in glory. But in Thessalonica, Paul was able to paint a clearer picture to his audience through the help of the Spirit. Obviously, a daily clean look unto the crowned Jesus in His glory and undiluted with our myriads of confusion, calamity and the catastrophe in the present has the power of sustaining believers’ worship of Jesus, who died on the cross. Simply, it is the crucifixion of this Lamb of God that pave the way for the redemption of any sinner who bow his knees before the Cross of Calvary. ...

“So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭ 16:40 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.16.40.nkjv   Unlike those who take interest in the compromise of performance coaching experiences for paper coaching certificates, courageous coaches are made on the field of conflicts, confrontation and condemnation. Paul and Silas in Philippi have demonstrated the gracious courage to preach in seasons and out of season. And when it felt like they needed the comfort of the people, they preferred to be offered as a source of encouragement to concerned brethren. The spite of challenges and the troubles of life makes the heart to wish that courage and comfort are freely made for Christians. Whereas, every courageous coach is guaranteed to be prepared and made for the courage and comfort of others.

“But  at midnight  Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭ 16:25 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.16.25.nkjv   Reliance on reactive preaching is bound to send out negative spoilers to some carefully packaged good intentions. There may probably be good reasons to get mad at people’s actions and inaction, and even the expression of frustration to negative circumstances or the apparent lack of divine intervention. When Paul and Silas got stocked in prison for doing everything right, only God knew the detailed content or lyrics of their prayer and hymns to God that fascinated the attention of the prisoners. However, we know that it must be void of disappointment, regrets, or negative concerns. They were probably praising God for the grace and opportunity to fellowship with God, in spite of the apparent negative situation and circumstances. Obviously, the prisoners (including the keeper of the pris...