Heralds Digest

  “ And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; ” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬ If every praying time represents a request time, what happens when the heart feels no request? Isn’t this the reason why it is generally perceived that only the people with problems and the challenges of life go to prayer houses? That is, Work and play, so you don’t pray, right? Whereas, Jesus concluded His parable exhortations with “ men ought always to pray, and not to faint ”. It implies that men ought to make a lifestyle out of prayer, rather than going to God at the end of life’s crossroads. Those who often feel otherwise always get discouraged when it appears God doesn’t attend to their request-time visits. But, a play-prayer session is a time to come to God for a fun time with Him; and not necessarily for His solution to the challenges of life. Obviously, Jesus said, if the unrighteous Judge in our wicked world cannot ignore the act of importunity from a...

  “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “ The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you. ”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭17:20-21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Without doubt, the kingdom of God signifies the presence of God’s presence, power, providence, and provision. When it is dominant in any home, institution, and society, peace, purity, and the power of God are guaranteed, even among those who are alienated from the kingdom’s King. For example, the Pharisees asked when the kingdom of God would come because of their expectations of the fullness of kingdom manifestation at the promised revelation of the Messiah. Unknowingly to them and all believers today, “ The kingdom of God does not come with [religious] observation ”; but rather with the right release of the heart as the portal for the manifestation of God’s presence. Whenever we willfully release our hear...

  “ Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him. ”” Luke‬ ‭17:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ While most people do focus on the withdrawal of usefulness in social and corporate relationships as the primary consequences of offences, heaven is mostly concerned about the total loss of both the offender and offendee relevance for kingdom purposes. In all cases of offences, the famous path towards establishing the offender is mostly subjective. So, when the assumed offendee determines the offender , chances are that he has failed to carefully examine himself. Therefore, Jesus provides the most reliable path: “ Take heed to yourself ”. When a man places a high value on his self-relevance, he loses the more desirable relevance to God and others. Otherwise, ‘ if your brother sins against you ’ will always come after ‘...

  ““ Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from ,’” Luke‬ ‭13:24-25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The dilemma of strange stewards would always be pathetic, compared with the destiny of stranded sinners. While sinners are stranded in satanic bondage and alienated from the kingdom of God, stewards have working relationships with the Master and are dutifully engaged in His kingdom services. However, obedience to the Lord requires consistent attention to His commandments; while striving against the prevailing forces of distraction. The relationship between the Master and His stewards is strictly constrained through the narrow gate; and only those whose eyes are single on the Lord can afford not to be distracted. Unfortu...

  “And He said to them, “ Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. ”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Those in need of the material things on earth would wish for comfort in affluence, while there are many in affluence and high standards of living without a purposeful and positive influence in life. This reality was the headache of the fellow who begged the intervention of Jesus in an inheritance sharing dispute. And the Lord’s response remains valid for all times: Life consists only in the abiding purpose for living and not in the abundance of material possessions. Unfortunately, the pursuits of the coveted comfort receive the attention of the majority in life: how to get more stuff; how to feel more space; and how to grab more attention, etc. Whereas, a purpose-driven life is concerned about giving and making sacrifices in order to provide satisfaction to the needs of others. The conversion of any soul towards the ...

  “ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows .” Luke‬ ‭12:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Human care is best illustrated by hair beauty care. Our strands of hairs are best treated with touch, chemical, and cuts; and if any strand is intentionally or mistakenly damaged, the creatures’ care cannot replace the loss. This scenario just play out the interdependence between the care and threat of man. The best of our care in a system must come with a penalty (a threat) on another system. Little wonder why a man with excessive power is greatly feared by those who seemed vulnerable as the object of his threat. Whereas, those who benefit from the product of excessive power would readily praise this creature’s care, albeit at the expense of those who do not benefit. Therefore, Jesus said ‘Do not fear’ …because, unlike the creature’s care, the Creator’s care is absolutely creative. “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered” means God...

  ““ No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.” ”Luke‬ ‭11:33-36‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Stage management is an art of spotlighting that requires the mixture of light and darkness. All objects and activities that are not spotlighted are necessarily shedded from the glare of the audience through the power of darkness. Unfortunately, human lifestyle and socialization have also employed the art of stage management with the power of greed, bitterness, and dishonesty. For sinners and the unregenerate souls, these attribute...