Heralds Digest

  ” For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you .“ Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ It is generally true that the pursuits of earthly desires are necessary for the realization of excellence and breakthrough in life. Even God acknowledges and encourages diligence in business as a common denominator for success. However, God is warning believers against blind pursuits of their earthly desires, as if they are orphans. God knows every of His children’s earthly desires and can sufficiently take care of them. The blind pursuits of earthly desires breed worrying, fear, and anxiety; and they will most definitely generate rebellion against the manifestation of divine desire in the hearts of believers. Whenever the divine desire is clearly revealed, a singular pursuit of the divine desire will automatically make available all provisions for the earthly desires. ...

  ” As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? “ ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Before the psalmist’s thirst for God and His living water, he had a terrible experience following the tear-producing mirror of the multitude. Everyone in our performance-driven world has got to develop a sustainable strategy against the statement “ Where is your God? ” from the multitude mirror. And like many of us who have groaned before finding the light, the psalmist had struggled with disappointment, despair, and depression. Whereas, the word of God is the source of the satisfying living water for every believer’s freshness, fullness, and fruitfulness in life. Anyone who comes face to face before this majestic mirror is daily transformed from dryness to freshness, emptiness to fullness, and fruitlessness to fruitfulness in a progressive glory, until he becomes the best of God’s intende...

  ”“ So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened .“ Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The fundamental principle of asking and receiving from God is that the subject of request is at the centre of the will of God. Notwithstanding, not every request at the centre of the will of God receives automatic rendering without the progressive and persistent process of asking, seeking, and knocking. Since the believer’s archenemy against the fulfillment of the will of God is the Devil, it is important for every seeker to understand that the Devil is first the enemy of God and His will before his inheritance of the welfare. Has anyone considered the fact that it takes a greater resource to seek than asking? Likewise, knocking demands greater resources than seeking. Oftentimes, each step in the process of asking, seeking, and knocking reve...

” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” “ Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭41‬-‭42‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ It is true that most teaching about the practice of the presence of God is incomplete without a practical reference to the experience of Brother Lawrence (born Nicolas Herman), a 17th-century Carmelite friar. Lawrence pleads that all work is valuable to God and one need not accomplish great things to please Him. And drawing a similar illustration from the experiences of Martha and Mary with Jesus, believers can understand Christ’s preference of the spirit service of Mary to the sensual service of Martha. Unfortunately, the sensual services form most of the norms, etiquette, and standard practices in most institutions, organizations, and social functions. Therefore, it will always take every believer’s sensitivity to the presence of God and inspired by His...

  ” Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven .”“ Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ One of the motivations for any ignorant or consented initiation into secret cultism, diabolical activism, and demonic society is the desire and demonstration of raw power and superiority over other people. Unfortunately, some supposed followers of Jesus Christ do nurse this oppressive power in secret, while proclaiming religious affiliation with people of the light and righteousness. In their deceptive minds, the public show of political, ministerial, and professional dominion gives better glory to the Lord. Whereas, when the seventy disciples of Jesus returned from the field of evangelism with joy for their dominion over demons, Jesus responded “ do not rejoice in th...

  ” And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village .“ Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭54‬-‭56‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ As demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ, the spirit of Easter is definitely the spirit of forgiveness and the sharing of love. While on His way to Jerusalem to consummate the love of God for humanity, the disciples John and James had adjourned Jesus to permit the release of their vengeful spirit over the reluctant Samaritans. Little wonder, before this time, they had been pursuing a selfish demand for power and position in the kingdom of God with little or no reference to the plight of other disciples. So, when Jesus responded “ You do not know what manner of spirit you are of ”, it confirms ...

  ” Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me .“ ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Another Easter weekend is approaching, especially with an exciting Retreat opportunity to reflect on believers’ perfect possession. Notwithstanding, the desire to follow Jesus does not rule out the desires for perfect jobs, perfect homes, perfect careers, perfect positions, perfect living standards, etc. Even at the Retreat ground, perfectionists are likely to be distracted by their obsession for a change in their status and conditions of living, instead of focussing on the sufficiency of Christ. Whereas, Jesus is every believer’s perfect possession. That’s why He told and still telling His disciples “ If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me ”. Focussing on the sufficiency of Jesus means all other insufficiency in believer’s life, home, career, position, and living...