Heralds Digest

  “ I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Life’s experiences, especially in our moments of pain and difficulty, are no doubt the best teacher. Successful men have risen to fame and great accomplishments by relishing on the accounts of their difficulties and challenges of life. For example, the development of intellectual property, building of a business empire, and the establishment of successful institutions for human governance are just a few out of the countless stories of life’s experiences. Unfortunately, success to many is accomplished with a misunderstanding of the true source of their strength. While it is true that success mostly follows dogged and creative utilization of the life’s experiences with determination, life is miserably doomed without the acknowledg...

  “ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Barring the diversity in degree, medical science claimed that everyone struggles with insanity. Perhaps, some may choose to measure wellness with the human ability to respond appreciably to emotional disturbances in relationships. For example, any object of pain , provocation , and poverty represents a balanced source of emotional disturbances in every supposed healthy relationship. And everyone can relate with his different level of insanity and struggles with these emotional disturbances at home, society and workplace. Whereas, after Paul admonished rejoicing always in pain , consistent gentleness with provocation , and absence of anxiety in handling poverty , he finally provid...

  “ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice !” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/php.4.4.nkjv Happiness is not a thing in the atmosphere of true rejoicing. While happiness is derived from the outcomes of life’s engagements and circumstances, true joy comes from every man’s relationship and status with the Lord. When a man accepts the invitation to come to the Lord, he finds rest from worries, anxiety, and receives the grace to fellowship with the Lord. Therefore, true joy is graciously sustainable and pleasantly renewable. Little wonder why the incarcerated Paul admonished the suffering believers resoundingly to ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’.   Sincerely, whenever the oil of rejoicing appears fading in life, it can only be replenished with a renewed fellowship with the Lord; and never with a refreshed twist in circumstances.

  “ Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. ” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/php.3.17.nkjv Leadership position at home, workplace, and in the society of people without commitment to understandable responsibilities is clearly rudderless. Everyone can easily relate to the leaders’ frustration when the supposed followers operate under chaos and confusion. Whereas, inward-looking leaders understand his role as the followers’ forward and remained focus on the need for consistent leadership examples. While detractors were bent on taking advantage of the challenging circumstances among believers in Macedonia to promote confusion, Paul quickly promoted confidence in leadership by examples. It takes enormous level of responsibility for someone to say ‘join in following my example ’. Even while under intense persecution and trials, Paul remained committed to the leadership of Christ and obedient to His promise...

“ Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus .” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:12-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/php.3.12-14.nkjv One of the exciting agenda of the training received in elementary schools teaches kids how to set goals and articulate future ambition. Many successful people in life can attest to the usefulness of this training towards developing the sense of taking responsibility for breakthrough and accomplishment. However, as we grow up, kids are confronted with the challenges of managing personal goals and ambition with the diversity of the goals of other people for their lives. Although these challenges get simplified for t...

  “ and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear .” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/php.1.14.nkjv The reason why most of us are skeptics of the game of buying God’s recommendation, mostly in the matters of life, is understandable. God’s goods are often packaged with uncommon wraps. When pain, persecution and peril follow the paths at the centre of God’s will, it is always difficult for many to see beyond the chains, confusions, and the crisis of faith. But seeing beyond the battered wrap of his personal convenience, Paul saw the resulting wrap of confidence to preach the gospel with boldness in the lives of the brethren in the Lord. Even today, God’s wrap delivers different goods to people, depending on the focus of their faith. Those whose faith is absolutely in God, and not necessarily in the packaged goods, are always confident to share the power of the gospel. Unfortunately,...

  “ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/php.1.6.nkjv While it is not right for anyone to underestimate the devices of the Devil, it is equally wrong for believers to disown or ignore the goodness of God in action at anytime. The Devil is undisturbed by believers’ attraction to the slogan ‘God is good, all the time ’, as long as the use of the slogan do not remove their focus on his evil work, wickedness, and the activities of the enemies. Whereas, Paul had to remind the suffering Church in Macedonia that focus on God’s works is more profitable. The riches of God’s grace and the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit are mostly profound in believer’s moments of difficulty, disappointment, and disaster. Therefore, wise children of God would rather ignore the temporary pain in suffering in order to embrace the fellowship with God and the man...