Heralds Digest

  “ Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” Acts 3 : 6 - 7 NKJV Just as the lame man would have been disappointed and discouraged by the sound of “ Silver and gold I do not have“ , we all struggle with the fact that God is full of grey gift. When reality keeps human expectations in suspense, it is understandable why we often don’t have anything to do with grey gifts. And knowing that human brains are wired with a super appeal for grand gifts, Peter had to quickly provide the access to the grey gift: “ but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk ”. Notwithstanding, the lame man would have continued with a gaze of expectation from the grey gift; if not that Peter “ took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately ...

  “ For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken .” Acts 2 : 25 NKJV One of the major instruments of exercising dominance and authority in the world is the incitement of fear and oppression; but everyone can tell that the product from such fearful fellowship is unfruitfulness. No doubt, David had a fair share of unfruitfulness in his fellowship with important people in his life, including king Saul, associates, and family members. We know that at some point during his wilderness experience, he contemplated giving up. However, when the scriptures speak of his testimony that ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken ’, we can understand the reality of falling into fear when the Lord is always around with His gift of faith, love, and sound mind. Therefore, the foundation of a fruitful fellowship is faith in God through the saving grace of our Lord ...

“ For the Lord hears the poor, And does not despise His prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion And build the cities of Judah, That they may dwell there and possess it.” Psalms 69 : 33 - 35 NKJV Just as the wilderness experience taught the psalmist the power of praise, John Bunyan wrote the pilgrims’ progress from the prison. Regarded as one of the most significant works of theological fiction in English literature and a progenitor of the narrative aspect of Christian media, pilgrim’s progress has much less to do with believers’ proactive agitation. In fact, those who are poor and deficient in the supply of worldly means of agitation can rest on the proficiency of God for a meaningful driving of purpose in life. Even while confined by the walls of his prison, John Bunyan wrote of the pilgrim’s progress; which literally advances the journey of faith in many believers and attracts the joy of salvation in many unbeli...

  “ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth .”” Acts 1 : 8 NKJV The job of waiters has always been tricky. Those who cannot exercise the waiting patience will readily exhibit the wasteful pride. Joab the son of Zeruiah in the Old Testament and Judas Iscariot in the New Testament are typical examples of wasteful waiters. Even while recording a mix of commendable waiting services with proudful servings, they got wasted before their scheduled podium for empowerment. Notwithstanding, the promised power of the Holy Spirit is for gracious waiters, who must be witnesses of their experiences with the Lord. There are enormous experiences in the believer's life and ministries that these waiters are usually privileged to share to the glory of God. And when we truly wait and God eventually empowers us, the nations are reached with the undiluted gospel of healin...

  “ So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs .”” John 21 : 15 NKJV For Simon Peter and his accompanying disciples to the fishing expedition, the earlier call from Christ as fishers of men has suffered a colossal setback by the arrest and death of Christ. His main motivation ‘I am going fishing’ wasn’t just a refreshing expedition. It was a retracing of life’s ambition and purpose for living, after a deep reflection on the unfortunate setback. It is a common reality of the living love that family, business, health, and relationship setbacks and the need to make ends meet change everyone’s perspective about life and determination. However, when Jesus came after Simon Peter to ask “ Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” , it was clear Jesus is always calling all His disciples to the ‘lambs’ love, instead ...

  “ Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away .”” John 20 : 13 , 15 NKJV The reverence and identification of Mary with the supposedly dead Jesus Christ, amidst the threat of the Jews, apparently attracted the appearance of the resurrected Lord. Even though angels and Jesus rhetorically asked Mary “ Woman, why are you weeping? “, they knew her sacrifice of security and comfort to fellowship with the supposedly dead Saviour. Her action represented a vivid testimony of faith, especially when everything surrounding the hope of believers appeared dead. For example, faith in the power and the presence of the Lord in the midst of our dead physical abilities, hea...

  “ Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, And His strength is in the clouds. O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God !” Psalms 68 : 34 - 35 NKJV As the world grapples with the current relativity in the concept of super power, the reality of endless wars among nations in these last days is dawning on everyone. Notwithstanding, human, political, financial power and physical strength remain a recurrence decimal in how people establish and manage relationships. Little wonder, everyone with a relative measure of superior power is tempted to lord his relevance over  fellow. And unfortunately, the response to the world’s abuse of power is always destructive, including covetousness, idolatry, wickedness, and evil.  Whereas, the scriptures admonished believers to “ Ascribe strength to God” . Why, for Israel? God is the only custodian of an ancient awesomeness above the...