Heralds Digest

  “ What shall I render unto the LORD For all his benefits toward me? O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: Thou hast loosed my bonds .” Psalm‬ ‭116‬:‭12‬, ‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬ Knowing God and making Him known are the summary essence of human existence. Unfortunately, the hearts of men are preferably bonded unto other things as the essentials of beautiful benefits. This is the reason why hearts that seek not first the kingdom of God and all its righteousness cannot possibly appreciate the knowledge of God’s will in the midst of the challenges of life. Unlike the psalmist, these ungrateful hearts could only rather yield to complaints and the expressions of overwhelming frustration to the Lord for allowing bond barricades instead of evidence of social and financial welfare. Whereas, a believer's faith in God is intimately developed by the wilderness experiences and the bonds benefit from life’s experiences. While testimony without a test is immoral, ...

  “ A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small. So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; If you have found it, there is a prospect, And your hope will not be cut off .” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24‬:‭5‬, ‭10‬, ‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Without prejudice to the benefits of physical exercises, physical and material strength is never a match to real life challenges and emotional disturbances. The day of adversity is a typical day of reckoning, when the limitation of every man’s pride and reliance on human achievements stirs him in the face. No matter how physically, socially, financially, and materially endowed, we are all restricted in life by this ‘small strength ’ phenomenon. Unfortunately, this reality often makes many people and our world elites put their trust in strange spiritual covenants with cults and covens. But power always passes power; and there is never ever a match to the power of righteousness through ...

  “ 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. ” Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Ambition is all about making advances or fanning the ‘desire to succeed ’; and it is a mark of human relevance in all of life’s disciplines. Even in home management and family welfare, ambition sets the mark of achievement and attainment. Unfortunately, the desirable marks of achievement and attainment are mostly defined by human beings and for personal recognition and relevance. But when Paul the Apostle reviewed his ministerial ambition, he clarified the difference between attentive advances and inattentive (or ambitious) advances, as regards his relationship with Jesus Christ who called him into the ministry. From the Pauline revelation, we understand that attentive advances are focussed on pleasing God; rather than human personal cravings. When believers are constantly sensitive and completely...

  “ The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. May the Lord give you increase more and more, You and your children .” Psalms‬ ‭115‬:‭12‬, ‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ In a vast region of the black nation, the new month is synonymous to the celebration of independence in reverse captivity. While not necessarily the subjective incarceration of the body and physical entities; but it is the voluntary release of the minds to servitude. Corruption and the wilful exercise of wickedness against fellow mankind are mostly an outward expression of inward inferiority complex. Whereas, all of God’s children, and irrespective of our region of functional habitation and residential distribution, are blessed by the Lord for productivity and multiplication. And the moment the minds of believers are mindfully set loose to enjoy total independence from physical, emotional, and spiritual servitude, they will begin to experience unrestricted m...

  “ Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield .” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭115‬:‭1‬, ‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ If anything, our attraction to the personal glory acquired through human interaction with personalities in our lives; and the elements of this world is a distraction to the expected focus on the glory of God.  Whereas, believers are primarily created, called, and commissioned to be a representation of the glory of God. Unfortunately, when our focus is shifted to the pursuit of personal glory in our home, career, opportunities, and achievements in the society, we gradually become insensitive to what exactly is the purpose of God for our positioning and prevalence. Mostly, this shift and distraction happen at the expense of the abiding presence of God. No doubt, the world around us would readily celebrate those who temporarily succeed in seeking their own r...

  “ According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain .” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The difference between long life and life long is obvious. While the emphasis in the former is long , the interest of the latter is life . Obviously, there is no worth in a long life without a satisfying sense of fulfillment. A life in pursuit of the longevity of material pleasure, worldly affluence, and fanciful fan is mostly plagued with the reality of vanity, wastefulness, and, sometimes, depression in the midst of its affluence. Whereas, even in the chagrin of chains like Paul the Apostle, there was an expression of joy and affection in the heart for the fruits of his labour in Christ. It implies that a worthwhile life is more concerned with living a God-satisfying life than pursuing a self-glor...

  “ Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob, Who turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a fountain of waters .” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭114‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The shakers of this world have got guts; and wise people do tremble at their appearance and appointment. The likes of these shakers can throw their offending subjects into the burning fiery furnace; and they can banish the erring folks into the den of lions or the garrison of prisoners. Unfortunately, almost all of the likes of these sensible trembles lead men into a collision course with the Lord. When Joseph responded “ How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? ” to the almighty Queen in Potiphar’s house, that turned a triumphant tremble at the end; though not a sensible tremble at the beginning. A triumphant tremble practices the presence of the Lord always; and would readily damn all consequences of the resolve to obey His commandments. It is a simple mark of t...