Heralds Digest

  “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Hebrews‬ ‭13:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬ The security and prosperity of the body have often demanded loyalty and respect for organizational rules, as supervised by superiors. Unfortunately, these rules are not just sometimes designed to jeopardize the security of a believer's soul; they are mostly drawn towards the personal profit of corrupt supervisors. Invariably, the activities of all supervisors (spiritual, corporate, social, etc) have either a positive or negative influence on the security and prosperity of every believer’s soul. Therefore, for an enhanced security and prosperity of the believer's soul against the influences of carnal supervision, believers must 1. recognize the positive activities of selfless supervisors and remember them always in prayer (verse 7); 2. respect th...

  “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” Hebrews‬ ‭13:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬ The popular preacher has rightly summarized the pursuit of opportunities, position of privileges, prosperity, and powers in this world as ‘vanity upon vanity, all is vanity’ . Likewise, the exhortation to the Hebrews declared “ For here have we no continuing city… ”. But the good thing and the most amazing comfort against believers’ world of confusion and confrontation is that we have a continuing Captain, the High Priest, the Author, and the Finisher of our salvation. When we seek Christ daily and get prepared to bear His reproach, we can hardly see any personal challenge, affliction, persecution, and trial along the way. Even while Apostle Paul was held in stocks and imprisonment, he could still lead an amazing and inspiring campaign of the gospel through the grace freely bestowed by the continuing Captain. Therefore, the latter glories in the pursuits of the possibilities of grace from our ...

  “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The difference between the saving and abiding faith is the peace in the rest offered, even when hope deferred almost endlessly. That God is Omnipotent is not just in the evidence of His potency; but primarily in the assurance of His existence. But when hope is deferred, many people will be pressured to adopt different alternative options to waiting on the promises of God. Whereas, it takes an abiding faith in the existence of God to peacefully please Him; and diligently pursue His unpopular counsels to the last mile of a glorious reward. Abel pleased God over Cain and rested peacefully in his conviction, even against the brutal assault from his brother. Noah pleased God over his generation’s wicked disposition to the existence of God and rested peacefully in his lonely ark, while the world got wi...

  “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Hebrews‬ ‭11:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Without prejudice on the destructive power of the wicked words from men, there is certain evidence of creativity in human words. For example, unsettled elements and circumstances in life’s affairs have often experienced settlement through soft, inspiring, and encouraging words. But without faith in God, our wobbling world cannot attract wonderful words. When our financial, health, and social worlds at home, workplaces, and the society are filled with uncertainties, catastrophes, and fear, the familiar words from men are based on the reality of what is seen and can be formulated. Whereas, the scriptures speak of faith in God, offering the possibility of seeing something beyond the realms of human intelligence. Whenever man is privileged to finally connect with God and His words in this realm of faith, he is ab...

  “for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Hebrews‬ ‭7:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The sense of orderliness in a system and society begins with a sincere respect for the rule of law.  But in saner climes, there are still varieties of compromises, insincerity, discrimination, abuses, etc. Sometimes, it is sincerely difficult to define the value of freedom in either of the societies, with respect to the absence of peace in almost all human relationships. The conclusion is here expressed in that ‘for the law made nothing perfect!’ . That is, the law cannot guarantee perfect parenting, perfect family, perfect decorum, perfect business practice, perfect policing, and absolute perfect nothing. The only hope for perfection in life comes through the grace of God, freely given through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. For He said ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; No one comes to the Fat...

  “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, Hebrews‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “Let this cup pass from me” is the highest reference of the crossroad between the will of the flesh and the will of God, as demonstrated by the Son of Man at the garden of Gethsemane. Far above the mindset of receiving as we approach the throne of grace, the Gethsemane experience teaches believers the beauty of sublime submission as one of the cardinal privileges of prayer. Our High Priest prayed to the Father, who 1. Acquires the ability to save the Son from death; 2. Acknowledges the worthiness of the Son’s request on godly fear; and 3. Approves the passage of the Son’s earthly desire into the pool for immediate attention by the throne of grace and mercy. Notwithstanding, the Lord Jesus Christ exemplified sublime submission as the one of the greatest privileges ...

  For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” Hebrews‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Someone said ‘It’s the season of extraordinary breakthrough’; and another responded ‘How do you mean?…Is fear, instability, corruption, and insecurity some of the metrics?’. The fact is that words based on empirical evidence and realities often do not align with the promise of rest for the people of God. Even in the midst of chaos and gross instability at home, workplace, and in society, faith in the word of God produce some sort of confidence to hold on and never give up. The faith fruit is the believer's faithfulness, righteousness, uprightness, integrity, and trust in the promises of God, even when all the metrics of facts are stacking up against faith. Therefore, the faithful children of God are able to stay confident in the place of prayer and supplication for the manifestation of God’s unf...