Heralds Digest

  “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews‬ ‭2:14-15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Kids are not alone in their love of characters, like Spider-Man and Hulk Hogan; everyone loves the performance roles in life.  But the logic that these performers never suffer or die in action is not always real. Therefore, Jesus Christ chose the role of partaker, instead of being just a performer of miracles, signs, and wonders, to engage the power of death, the fear of death, and provide deliverance for all who are held by the bondage of sin and death. The partaker’s role was a bitter and agonizing cup, which He had the option of passing even as late as the garden of Gethsemane. Little wonder He is the only  Way, Truth, and Life; and no one can come to the Father, ...

“Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.”” Hebrews‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Although the saying of the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus of Ephesus, that “ the only constant in life is change ” is widely accepted by all, everyone appears to be helpless on how to ultimately control the dynamics of change. Within the state of human helplessness, life is full of myriads of privileged changers who are capable of controlling the political, financial, and sociological status of different subjects within their sphere of influence. Unfortunately, the vanity of constant change often imposes the unpleasant switch in time and season for all human changers, mostly without prior notice. Fortunately, there is the possibility of life eternal in knowing the constant Changer. Even when we are folded up and changed, the constant Changer remains unchanged; and He is able to guarantee a desirable and unchangeable rest for those who are concerned...

  “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” Hebrews‬ ‭1:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ God’s words through His prophets in the days of old were dreaded by kings and rulers of the people because spirituality is generally accepted to control the physical realms. Whereas, with advances in intellectual capacities, increased productivity, human governance, and material wealth, words of politicians today appear to be more honourable than those of prophets. Even believers under the new covenant are ignorantly pressured to lay down their birthright in pursuit of crumbs from the tables of rulers of their world. Notwithstanding, the God of heaven still speaks His creative words to every weak but open mind…now through His Son! “ …has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through w...

  “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—” ‭‭Titus‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ There is a self-fixing standard of uprightness for those who must qualify as bishops or leaders in the Church, at home, and in the society; but Apostle Paul here suggested a higher standard for Bishop Titus, who was expected to oversee the procedure of orderliness. When there is gross disorderliness in any system, like insincerity, insecurity and corruption, even the best of self-styled saints is rendered useless. System-fixing requires the courage not only to model the self-fixing standard; but the encouragement of others to adopt the standard for the good of the system. Unfortunately, when the system resist reformation or fight back, many leaders with jellyfish hearts have often learned how to leave and let’s live. But for Bishop Titus, he was reminded of his pre-assessment as someone with courage to enforce...

  “traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” II Timothy‬ ‭3:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The uniqueness of a pleasure-driven life ambition is the satisfaction of carnal desires and affection. Without a prudent query on motive, the pursuits of life’s interest in a career, relationship, and project can present a commendable quest. But in the face of the challenges of life and possible show of hardness, those who join the train for pleasure can easily be separated from those who are driven by divine purpose. When Apostle Paul admonished young Timothy on the need to adopt a purpose plan in pursuit of success in ministry, he understood that the pleasure plan is filled with the satisfaction of fleshy desires and cannot please God. It is possible to love God with pleasure; but it is not possible to love pleasure with God…it’s just a game of plan.

  “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” ‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ There is something unique about every true and honest bride. She reserved her beauty only for the attraction and embrace of the true and worthy bridegroom all the life of their matrimony. As long as she is approved of by her husband, being ashamed by every other standard by the world or the opinions of other people is not consequential. Likewise, every believer is a purchased bride of Christ, and called to present herself approved only to Him. Unfortunately, those who are infected by approval syndrome in the world and its standards are wrongly pressured to pursue the line of compromise to the word of truth. Whereas, to rightly divide the word of truth, believers must be prepared to get ashamed by men in order to retain the approval of God. After all, Jesus is the truth-personified; and those who do not need to be ashamed of ...

  “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,” II Timothy‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Effective prayer has nothing to do with a pure head. Although, pure head can keep the strategies, organization, and frequency of prayer sessions, it cannot guarantee access into the presence of God. For “ Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? (Psalms‬ ‭24:3‬)”. The response to the psalmist’s concern has a variety of colours by religious people, like the ability to keep a good organizer, calendar, etc. Meanwhile, in making reference to the privilege of his frequent prayers for Timothy, Apostle Paul appreciated God for the power of a pure heart or conscience. Obviously, it is “ He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully ”. A pure prayer is the sole product from a pure heart, not even a pure head. When the heart is pure...