Heralds Digest

  “ The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts. Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end. ” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭110‬-‭112‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ It is common knowledge that good systems and institutions are governed by reliable regulations and bye-laws. Anyone who lives by these standards are usually expected to do well, with prosperity, promotion, and provisions. Unfortunately, compromises and conflict of interests often make culprits out of compliances. And as with the psalmist’s experience, following the Lord’s precepts requires great conviction in the journey of faith, especially against the activities of the wicked. Therefore, there are several other pliable precepts from the court of public opinion, political standing, socialization, and materialism. And uneasy agitation and impatience with divine counsels would readily lead anyone ...

  “ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith .” ‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ At the departure lounge of Apostle Paul where he was prepared to be offered as a martyr, he was busy negotiating a deal on the prospect of a drink offering with young Timothy. This model of a good fight and many other worthy servants of the Lord represent the joy of living a Christ-centred life with good fight. And likewise for everyone, life is a race of fighters; but not many people are usually ready for the departure deal, because of the want of grace for a good fight. For one reason or the other, life happens to many with little or no resistance to the exigencies of negotiating deals shrouded with bitterness, malice, unforgiving spirit, cheating, and all forms of unrighteousness. Even in Paul’s relationship with his persecutor, he was happy to paint their actions and...

  “ Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life.” Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭92‬-‭93‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Just as motivational words from men lift up the hearts, discouraging words promote depression. It all depends on which of these mixed servings in the real world is allowed to play the upper game on the hearts. Unfortunately, the architect of discouragement - the devil - does not play games; he doesn’t stop until the end game of destruction is achieved on all his targets. Therefore, sincere believers do not rely on motivational words from men and the circumstances of life. They get their delights in inspirational words from the Lord on a daily basis. When the psalmist said “ Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction ”, he meant a deluxe delight in comparison with other motivational delights. Likewise, believers should promote the priority of the words from ...

  “ And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ .” II Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Without a close reference to the lifestyle of hardship demonstrated by Apostle Paul, anyone could also credit the faithfulness of filthy followers of unrighteousness in our world to their shady deals. While the primary motive of these filthy followers is to escape hardship, they are skillful with the recruitment of soldiers who are faithful, loyal, and committed to their assigned tasks. Unfortunately, with the trading of filthiness for hardship, it is often easier to recruit filthy soldiers for the Devil and his kingdom than the enlistment of faithful soldiers for Jesus Christ. Therefore, just as the admonition of the persecuted and chained Apostle Paul to young Timothy, believers and labourers in the kingdom of God must be prepared to endure ha...

  “ Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. ” ‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The quality of every developed product depends on the reliability of its pattern. Just as it is with physical products, faith and believer’s convictions depend on the pattern of reception. For example, Apostle Paul had defended his persuasion on the heavenly vision received before many councils and magistrates. At this particular moment, he was imprisoned for his faith and about to die. Notwithstanding, his primary concern wasn’t the awaiting death by hanging; but that Timothy will uphold the pure pattern in life and ministry. Unfortunately, unlike the prosperity pattern in our crazy world, the pure pattern is not attractive. Yet, believers are called to hold fast this unpopular pattern. “ Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard...

  “ Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word. I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. ” Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭74‬-‭75‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ When a man’s treasure is focused on wealth, people can predict the essence of the human priorities in business relationships, interpersonal relationships, career engagement, and professional pursuit. Many homes, ministries, and life’s projects have been truncated on the basis of the ensuing greed or misalignment in the prospect of prosperity. The problem is that wealth-based prosperity often leads the heart away from a fruitful fellowship with God. But when the psalmist said “ Those who fear You will be glad when they see me “, he boasted about the privileges of a fruitful fellowship with God. Even during the period of the believer's wilderness experience and the season of unreasonable afflictions, a fruitful fellowship with the Lord and hope in His promises rejoice t...

  “ It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.” Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭71‬-‭72‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Without life’s experiences, it would have been impossible for anyone to truly know the Lord and understand His commandments. It was Smith Wigglesworth who said ‘Great faith is a product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials .’ Because no one will freely choose great fights, great tests, and great trials, God often does the serving of these goods without asking. And through these experiences, believers like the psalmist are able to look back and say “ It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes“ . Therefore, it is the experiences of life that bring out the strength, the truth, the anointing, the tenderness, the understanding, the tenacity, the exploits, and the stability out of t...