Heralds Digest

  “ then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment ,” ‭‭II Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Whenever man runs out of all his self-help options, he is usually presented as a vulnerable tool of manipulation in the hands of the enemies of God. From time immemorial, man idolizes and worships any open source of deliverance. Likewise, man would readily bow down and worship the golden image of anyone who would threaten his prevailing breeze of deliverance. Invariably, Shedrach, Messach, and Abednego were uncommon men in the land of Babylon in the days of king Nebuchadnezzar, with uncommon faith in God’s delightful deliverance. And like Joshua and Caleb of old, these men knew the difference between the deceptive deliverance of this world and the delightful deliverance from the Lord. It is always true that, while we can run out on the strategy to escape the trap set by the enemies against our progress and prosperity i...

  “ For I know that the Lord is great, And our Lord is above all gods .” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭135‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Anyone can say God is great as long as the greatness of the esteemed others in their lives, minds and practices are not compromised. Even king Nebuchadnezzar told Daniel in the second chapter of Daniel that “ Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets ” (Daniel‬ ‭2‬:‭47‬); but he still compelled all his subjects to worship the golden image set up by him in chapter 3. Whereas, when the psalmist testified “ For I know that the Lord is great, And our Lord is above all gods ”, it wasn’t a mere religious declaration. Knowing the great God requires a practical demonstration with the heart of faith against all threats, persecution, and intimidation, like the ones suffered by Shedrach, Messach, and Abednego when they refused to bow down and worship the golden image of king Nebuchadnezzar. When believers appreciate the service of their stomach infrastruct...

  “ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble .”” I Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ If grace is God’s riches or righteousness at Christ’s expense, humility must apparently be God‘s advances in life’s engagement at human expense. At every point in life, social system, and institution, advances are the simple references to the connection between young people and elders. But in the atmosphere of competition, disloyalty and insubordination, it is easier to underscore the enemy of personal progress and the archenemy of system advances. Apparently, God institutionalized submission to elders and leaders at home, society, industries, and our global economy for the pursuit of a sustainable development of the spirit of humility and collaboration. Unfortunately, when anyone fails to submit to elders, he merely succeeds in setting up a barricade agai...

  “ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity !” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭133‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ If there is one singular thing plaguing the manifestation of the glory of God in the assembly of brethren and the family of God’s people, it is the irony of dwelling in disunity. While pretending to pursue unity through the convocation of regulated assemblies, the ultimate motivation of brethren are usually shifted from God’s glory to self glory. Little wonder there is often Pentecostalism without the spirit of Pentecost. By allowing fragmentation through the lines of denomination, designation, and dreams, we are usually made to sacrifice the good and pleasant on the altar of disunited dwelling. Whereas, the Holy Spirit still cries out “ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! ” The Holy Spirit is willing to flow freely through the brethren in sincere fellowship with the Heavenly Father; and not just by dwelling together without...

  “ Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing .” ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The basis of love in all relationships is the spreading of benefits. Whether through material, social, political, or emotions, even givers expect to check their paybacks from initial beneficiaries sooner or later. But instead of loving as beneficiaries, Christ’s love enjoins believers to love as brethren. Why? We are sincerely and exceedingly blessed by God’s love and do not really need to be labelled as the beneficiaries from men. God’s love is inexhaustible. So, we are called to love without expecting anything back. That’s the only way those outside the perimeter of God’s love can get to know the way inside. Therefore, hatred, evil, and wickedness in retaliation for the wa...

  “ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ” ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬, ‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ There is a slight difference in believer’s understanding of being ‘called N chosen’ and being ‘chosen N called’ . While the former understanding merely underscores the disciple’s calling into service, the latter understanding emphasizes the disciple’s calling into suffering. By reflecting on the privileges of being chosen by God through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross of Calvary, Apostle Peter was inspired to let the disciples of Christ understand that suffering is part of the service towards living for the glory of God. And by accepting the call to suffer with Christ, we receive grace daily to follow the steps of Christ with hum...

  “ Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, ” ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Sincere salvation is a deposit of the riches and righteousness of God through the renewal and refreshment of the Spirit at the expense of the rendering and redemption of Christ. Being a total package of the Trinity, it is both wholesome and winsome through a consistent service of the word of God. Unfortunately, those who struggle with the solemn call to holy living and agape love are either not sincerely redeemed and tasted the package of salvation or unwilling to embrace the wholesome word as the sincere milk for growing in grace. Considering that everyone’s world is coloured by the corruptible words of friends and associates, promoting malice, hatred, bitterness, reveng...