Heralds Digest

  “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—” Ephesians‬ ‭6:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Ceaseless prayer will always be a reasonable concern for organized people with busy engagements. Unfortunately, human reasoning with the busy schedule of life has often produced prayerless and powerless people. Whereas, the call for a lifestyle of ceaseless prayer is a command from God, who is interested in being part of our day to day reasonable concerns. Therefore, if we can devise a means of transcribing all our daily engagements into short prayer syllables, we will realize how easy it is to obey the commandment to pray always. After all, the solicitation is in the Spirit, while the body can be fully engaged in its regular exigencies. When we surely pray always, there will not be allowance for mind preying by the agents of darkness; not only for personal protection, but the preservation of all saints wi...

  “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:26‬ ‭KJV‬‬ Since only godliness with contentment provides a great gain in life, it is true that the root of all discontentment is ungodliness or unrighteousness. Therefore, when the scriptures admonish believers to “ Be ye angry, and sin not” , an exceptionally righteous, holy, or desirable discontentment is being recommended. This type of anger speaks of the rebellious pursuit of the path of truth and righteousness against worldliness and unrighteousness at home, workplaces, and the society. However, only the influence of the Spirit, truth, and the unmistaken love of God in the heart can keep the righteous within the boundary of a desirable discontentment in the days of his provocation. Unfortunately, discontentment in our relationships in life has often misinterpreted the scriptural injunction as “ Be ye angry, and sin ”; because we always replace the appetite for godliness and righteousness wi...

  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ If redemption had been fabricated on earth, we would have different versions depending on probably the country of origin, denomination of the fabrication assembly, and the presiding bishop or evangelist. But the scriptures revealed that our redemption originated and completed in Christ through His blood. Notwithstanding, the experiences of many believers and the interactions with the elements of this world often query the riches of the grace that brought redemption down. Whereas, the redemption package is free, full, and final for those who would trust in the finished work of grace. We cannot start the transaction on the basis of trust and thereafter gain license to continue the race on human wisdom. Rich redemption has no allowance for human wisdom; its grace is made to abound only ...

  “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians‬ ‭6:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ In human economies, politics, and social disposition, smartness is synonymous to the mockery of gullible minds. Therefore, the seemingly smart or deceptive to play is rewarded as being skillful in the game; and these folks always appear to have it in our world. Unfortunately, the scriptures posited that all the efforts that constitute smart sowing to the flesh’s prosperity, promotion, and popularity will eventually reap corruption at the end. Why? God is a Spirit and cannot accept nor reward all deceptive manipulations through smart sowing. Whereas, when we sow to the Spirit, we passionately eschew all known conflict of interests against the Will of God; especially for every situation and circumstance concerning the people in our l...

  “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Anyone can claim to live in the Spirit when not engaged and untested. That is why carnal assessment of candidates for sensitive positions of high integrity standards and an intimate relationship like marriage is always deceptive. Even if we sincerely live in the Spirit before engagement with people and entertainment of the dynamics of life, it takes a daily leverage on the grace of God to walk through the engagement and entertainment in the Spirit. Unfortunately, not many people understand the reality of our non-sufficiency to walk in the Spirit without the grace of God. The intrusion of the flesh against unpleasant interactions is a common experience for those who engage, compared to just living alone. Anyone can live for Spirit Showing; but it takes an extra grace to walk along with Spirit Serving. That was why the Apostle Paul affirmed elsewhere ‘I die daily! ’. Therefore, if we claim to pa...

  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ ‘Am only human’ is a common way of showing submission to regulations and the rule of law. Oftentimes, this evidence of the works of the flesh reveals the need for total submission to the influence of the Spirit of God. Therefore, the embodiment of the Spirit shows simply the characteristics of love in all relationships and circumstances (whether inboard a controlled environment; or outboard, even in a hostile environment). It implies that when the Spirit is fully in control, no checks by the law are needed to radiate the love of God with joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, even when the worst of hell is let loose. When ‘Am only human’ is truly double-crossed by ‘Am crucified with Christ’ , the Spirit shows something uniquely beyond the regul...

  “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” Galatians‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Being Jews first before becoming Christians, there are lots of prides in the patriarchs‘ covenant relationship with God to protect for early followers of Christ. Predominately in the Galatian church, circumcision was being promoted by some as a necessary requirement to access the provisions of the Cross. Even today, fans of celebrities, music legends, sport superstars, famous politicians are mostly stronger than fellowship on the basis of faith and working by the Spirit of God. Unfortunately, the generic principle of flashing man’s works in the flesh to get accepted into fellowship is still succeeding in tearing family, friends, and fellowship apart. Wherever faith in God is leading in the project of life, election of members’ participation on the basis of human qualifications is secondary to selection by faith and the Spirit of God. If we always...