Heralds Digest

  “ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked .” I John‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Fellowship and influence are common cause and effect phenomena. There cannot be true fellowship without the tested influence. And as we establish relationships with family members, workplace partners, and professional colleagues, we are necessarily impacted by their lifestyles, belief systems, and cultures until a check is placed by the  believers’ fellowship with God: Anyone who claims a full fellowship with God must be 100% influenced by Him. Unfortunately, this solemn check hasn’t gone well in almost all religious circles. Even the most religious fanatics have often claimed the form of fellowship in religious gatherings and assemblies; but people have readily questioned their will power to stand straight in difficult moments with crisis of faith. For example, when Daniel was thrown into the den of lions because of the demonstration of his full fellowship with God, even t...

  “ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. ” ‭‭II Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ In human economy, slackness is synonymous to delay and slothfulness; but in God’s economy, slackness is always counted as perfection in timing. Understandably, man would readily count slackness or delay on the basis of personal considerations for progress, promotion, and the prosperity of promises. While disappointment and the apparent shattering of dreams are common realities in life, believers with absolute faith in the promises are called to count on the irreversibility of the promises of God. Obviously, human senses may not agree with the realities of personal inconveniences on the ground, but the confidence of the righteous always aligns with the fact that there is an ultimate system good waiting to be revealed. Therefore, slackness will be slothfulness when a personal...

  “ 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...