Heralds Digest

  “ Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart .” Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Those who usually slump into disobedience against the promised rest from God always have their disappointment. The path to the promised rest in life is usually rough. And the enemies know how to move fast and cut the crap of diligence before every disappointed soul, offering deceptive pleasure, promotion, and prosperity. Unfortunately, the rigged rest through deception and unrighteousness cannot guarantee anyone the apparently rough rest from God. It doesn’t and wouldn’t offer the passage and privilege of soul searching, timely transformation, and real righteousness. But when any righteous child of God believes and abid...

  “ The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live .” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭144‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ While it is true that there are no testimonies without a test, testimonies are expected to be self-proclaiming and self-propagating. Unfortunately, tests can be more overwhelming and extremely captivating than the traces of testimonies in every believer’s life. And like the psalmist, we need constant reassurance on the righteousness of the testimonies of God’s faithfulness in our lives, especially in seasons surrounded by the overarching influence of the enemies. “ Give me understanding, and I shall live ” suggests that the hearts are tempted to focus on the activities of the enemies and their brazen zeals and manipulations. These tough realities of life often bring discouragement and depression to those who cannot rely absolutely on God. Whereas, trusting in the Lord and leaning only on His understanding bring life, vitality, and focus on the everlasti...

  “ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren ” Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Wretched and lost into sin, it was evident to God that no one can come up for mercy. So, the Saviour not only came down with mercy, He came for the sinners’ messes. The messes and sufferings were considered fitting for Him, “ for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory ”. No doubt, it is the coming down of the Saviour to get fitted with sinners that makes the experience of salvation so unique. As reported by Nicky Gumbel, the former televangelist, Jim Bakker, in his autobiography ‘ I Was Wrong ’, tells of his descent into ignominy, impoverishment and imprisonment for accounting fraud. He lost his fr...

  “ The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me .” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭130‬, ‭133‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ According to the psalmist, the realities of life are simple steps made complex.  Expectedly, human’s advances in knowledge make complex phenomena, produce sophisticated interpretation of scenarios, and present a confused representation of intentions. And when teams at home, workplace, and social groups are pulled out of these types of advances, they come together more to scatter than collaborate. Notwithstanding, the entrance of God’s words still gives light at the thickest and blackness of darkness. The Lord’s words bring illumination, guidance, and discretion to those who are sensitive to His leading. Therefore, the hearts of the righteous can be reassured of God’s appearance and guidance in the right paths, even when it appears we are heading towards disaster. It takes the hearts to ...

  “ Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, And teach me Your statutes. I am Your servant; Give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies. ” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭124‬-‭125‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ There is nothing so refreshing in this world of confusion than knowing the truth and being totally unbounded by the truth. When the psalmist says “ Give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies ”, he wasn’t referring to head knowledge. Whereas, religious people are full of the knowledge of the word of God, without the liberating power of the truth in the words. Oftentimes, the real refreshments come from the demonstration of the knowledge of the word of God on love, meekness, and peace through our day to day activities; and the practical handling of the challenges of life. These fellowship experiences bring down the presence of God and the real refreshments, even when our outward experiences and exposures speak of darkness and imprisonment. As we proceed into a new week and fellows...

  “ This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. ” ‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Good works are easy to maintain in an atmosphere with apparent competition for good works; but such an atmosphere is out of this world. In our world, good works are politically motivated for personal benefits. Whereas, ‘those who have believed in God ’ and not in themselves are always careful to maintain good works. It takes an undiluted showering of the mercy of God to maintain good works, especially in the atmosphere of hatred, harassment, and hostility. The fact is that consistency in merciful maintenance is a demonstration of the believer's faith in God as the only Rewarder of good works. Unfortunately, those who wouldn’t be consistent because of their reasonable response to hatred, harassment, and hostility in their world have succeeded in cutting th...

  “ Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes .” Proverbs‬ ‭26‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Those that specialize in conflict resolution and anger management have always relied on biblical principles; but without the grace of God, no one is capable of managing the silver lining that separates the wise from a fool. When the scriptures say “ Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him ”, it suggests the use of silence treatment by the grace of God during the moments of hot expressions of emotions. Why speak when no one is listening, except when one has been injected with a dose of foolishness? And when the scriptures admonish “ Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes ”, it recommends a sober treatment by the same grace of God, especially at intervals when a fool can digest questions, interventions, and responses for possible reconsideration ...