Heralds Digest

  “ And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the Lord. ” I Samuel ­2:21 NKJV The asking and releasing of Samuel by Hannah to the Lord teaches that a man’s soul is truly not satisfied by material blessings. These blessings, including material riches, political relevance, academic achievement, family enlargement, etc, can only establish our social, economical, and academic relevance. Although Hannah was emotionally devastated by her rival’s provocation and competition for the fruits of the womb, she became fully satisfied by keeping her gifted fruit of the womb with the Lord. It shows that until the soul is visited by the Lord, he remained stranded and unsatisfied. If only the heart knows what brings true satisfaction to the soul, he will no longer seek satisfaction from broken cisterns. When Bernhard Langer (one of the best golfers of his generation) said ‘I had won seven events in five differe...

  “ My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be moved.”   ­Psalms 62:5-6­ NKJV There is something unsettling about provocation; it doesn’t always produce right judgment. When the scripture says the wrath of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God, it underscores the indispensability of silence around proud people. Unlike the wrath of God, whenever man responds to the wrath of men, anyone can be sure about the cloud of unrighteousness that will ensue through anger, provocation, and bitterness within the space. Whereas, silent souls are inspired to see the mind of God. Silence underscores the understanding of the presence of God in all of life’s situations and circumstances. In fact, the evidence of agitation is a subtle declaration of faithlessness and the expression of pride or arrogance before God. Silent souls are prayerful people; they are swift to uncover the wrath of God ...

  “ Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” John 9:3-4 NKJV The response of Jesus here shows that there are numerous good works of God always waiting for execution by His gracious children. Unfortunately, these good works may wait forever, while believers are distracted by the wicked works of men and unpleasant circumstances. Since Jesus says elsewhere ““ Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father ( John 14:­12)”, it implies that believers need more grace daily to focus on the waiting works; and not rather get distracted by wicked works. The focus on who had sinned, and why, hasn’t ever given glory to God; and it wouldn’t start now. There is always something good, pleasant, and refreshing to do and ...

  “ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ”” John 8:­31-32 NKJV There is no doubt that twisted truth produces twisted freedom. That was why Jesus said “ “ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed ” (John ­8:36). And like the mindset of many religious people today, His audience believed in the twisted truth on the basis of being the descendants of Abraham. Church affiliations, family lineage of saints, and self-righteousness cannot guarantee freedom from sin. But, “ If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ” True truth comes through the revelation of the words of God, and every believer’s commitment to abide in the revealed truth. Unfortunately, many churchgoers will prefer abuse to abide. While twisted truth specializes in peddling lies wrapped with tissu...

  “ Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies. ” ­Psalms ­60:11-12 ­NKJV Useful understanding begets useful undertakings. It is the reason why men promote their undertaking with fellow men above the supposed undertaking with an unknown God. Even in the household of faith, believers prefer their soft romance with the help of man at the expense of their sacred romance with God. Whereas, when we truly know God, we will realize that He is the only Source of light and a dependable Guide through the night. Meanwhile, the help of man is only useful as long as it is within the plan and purpose of God. Unfortunately, the challenge of knowing the plan and purpose of God, and the courage to draw the line against compromise with God, is daunting. Therefore, when the psalmist declared “ Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless“ , he personally related his wilderness experience with...

  “ So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and with what you may be bound to afflict you.” Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies .”” Judges 16:­6, 15 NKJV The gospel according to Sister Delilah teaches believers the danger of walking away from the true source of their strength. When Samson did, the deviation was painted as a special rededication to a new love for the pleasure of sin and immortality. “ How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me?“ . Yes, the gospel of love is a fundamental revelation of the source of our strength or weakness. Likewise, those who have deviated from God have always had to port with their hearts to the new strength source. Unfortunately for Samson, his new strength source was a mockery of love, a misery of security, and a misrepresentation of pleasure. Obviously...

  “ He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise. ” Proverbs 11:29-30 ­NKJV Life is a battlefield. We win some, we lose some; but not all wins are wise. There are several wins on the basis of wickedness, deception, injustices, and unrighteousness. Even the soul of the winner here is sacrificed on the altar of trophies or wind (using the language of the scriptures). Every engagement in life, competition for mastery, and struggle for position, prosperity, or popularity that demands the act or aid of unrighteousness is really not wisdom. It is simply the troubling of one’s own house. Unfortunately, only a fool does that knowingly or unknowingly. Whereas, a wise win is focussed on winning a soul and not any material substance. Sometimes, this wise move demands the sacrifice of the winner’s rights in pursuits of peace, purity, and the presence of God at...