Heralds Digest

  “And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭5:40-42‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.5.40-42.nkjv Ordinarily, shame wears a bitter taste. Therefore, the prospects of shame bringing joy and refreshments are rear, especially when the motives behind most of human actions are not often pure. Meanwhile, characters like Ananias and Shapphira understand the deadly and damnable cost for their name-seeking and self-gratification services. Whereas, the apostles here provided a distinguishing exception for an experience of joy in moments of shame. Their services were entirely rendered for the name of Jesus, without personal or se...

  “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭ 4:32 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.4.32.n Almost everyone in life is open to the service rendering at home, from societal fellowship, and in the larger society, especially when self-interests does not come in the way. Self-interests often restrict free volunteering, stringless services, and humble communication because the volunteered parties involved becomes more visible than the rendered services. Whereas at the early church, the multitude of those who believed were reported to be of one heart and one soul...on the quality of the rendered services. Even at home and in matter relating to the meeting of the challenges of life, whenever ‘ who does what ’ becomes more important than ‘what’s done by whoever’ , arriving at a common agreement must always be a tough call. Unfortunately, s...

  “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:46-47‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.2.46-47.nkjv Those who are genuinely concerned about the real life challenges in the business of soul-winning will always the query the cause of the difference in results between now and the early church. Even starting from the home of today’s evangelists, the concern for the missing link in the expected testimony of salvation ‘ And the Lord added to the church daily...’ is obvious. Couldn’t it be that we have always introduced the complications ‘... the evangelists added to the church daily? ’. And little wonder the absent-mindedness and the insecurity in the hearts of those who are being added to the fellowship of God’s people today. Whereas at the early ch...

  “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭ 2:44 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.2.44.nkjv The good intention in the enforcement of socialism in the state is the breaking of selfishness and the greed in man. But whenever the public system constitutes the enforcement agent for socialism, the citizens become enslaved in fear and deprived of the  needed freedom to “ ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart ”. Whereas, the new social system at the early Church wasn’t enforced by the leadership or the apostles. It was simply a unity of purpose influenced by the Holy Spirit. Prior to this experience, the hearts of these believers were wired to believe only in their selves and pursue their own interests. True belief in God and inspiration by His Spirit break the heart from its self-centered-ness and greed. The ability to accept the role of a custodian of wealth, position, and privileges in life, while God retains the ownership p...

  “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.1.8.nkjv The quest for power in the family, workplace, social circles and in state affairs is understandable. With this power comes the willful control of other people’s wish and ambition; and many people have miserably failed to understand the real purpose of being blessed with financial, political, and material powers. Without the provision of an underlying spiritual strength, an overbearing dose of these powers presumably corrupt the heart and soul of the users. Unlike these fake powers, Jesus assured the intimidated disciples with an offer of true power: “ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you... ”.  True power operates through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; and it does help the users to be a reliable instrument ...

  “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:6-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.1.6-7.nkjv Suspense is only entertaining with movies and matters of life that relate to the affairs of either unrelated or uninteresting others. But with matters relating to personal life and interests, we gets impatient with suspense. Notwithstanding, trust is vague without suspense. Even in matters concerning the state and political affairs of Israel, the disciples of Jesus appeared uncomfortable with the suspense game, especially after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Obviously, suspense stretches the human trust capacity, especially when the struggle with the diverging capabilities and interests are becoming more pronounced. Likewise for all believers in God and His promises, w...

  “And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.” ‭‭John‬ ‭ 17:10 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/jhn.17.10.nkjv If there is anything so worthy of excitement in every fruitful relationship, it is the pride of Identity. Likewise, Jesus was glorified, excited, and impressed with the mark of Identity between Him and the disciples, just as the mark of His Identity with the Heavenly Father remained unscathed. Anyone can claim the mark of Identity with Christ when everything in life is working well; but only those who can keep the mark in their moments of distress and disappointment are worthy of the glory of God. Little wonder, Apostle Paul cried out “ From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus ” (Galatians 6:17).  There are always marks for standing straight with the Lord and His commandments. And let all mixed ministers not pretend with the wearing of their carryons, only those marked as upright by the Lord a...