Heralds Digest

  “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20 : 24 NKJV The major problem with rat race in life is that people often run the race to achieve what they really would not need, to impress those who are probably undesirable to them, and to celebrate an attainment possibly designed for their containment. Whereas, those who are focused on the right race do not run because people are running, go to where everyone is going, and do not necessarily desire what everyone is desiring. For example, in spite of the popular knowledge and revelation that chains await Apostle Paul in Jerusalem, he knew that the race to Jerusalem was right because God had an assignment for him there. Likewise, the race from Gilgal to Jordan with Elijah was the right race for Elisha; and he had to ignore the discouragement from his colleagu...

  “ Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established .” Proverbs 16 : 3 NKJV While it is evident that the difference between true thoughts and twisted thoughts is the thoughts that pass the establishment check, waiting to access the actual end of thoughts in life is always a challenge. Could this be the reason why Moses prayed “ So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom ( Psalms 90 : 12 )?”  Little wonder why there is a reasonable reservation in every wide celebration of birthdays, wedding anniversaries, project accomplishments, graduation ceremonies, ministerial accomplishments, etc. For example, this week marks our 20 years wedding anniversary with tremendous milestones, including the bringing up of three amazing and God-fearing kids, thriving testimonies in the journey of faith in our workplaces, ministries, family relationships, etc, in spite of the challenges of life. Notwithstanding, we have learned how to consistently di...

  “ But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, And did not stir up all His wrath; For He remembered that they were but flesh, A breath that passes away and does not come again. ” Psalms 78 : 38 - 39 NKJV Those who engage in physical fight against any act of injustice, wickedness, and unrighteousness have always returned with shame and defeat. Why? There is no physical fight without spiritual influence; the flesh is always a mere container without any meaningful control. True fight is always in the spirit realm; and true overcomers must learn the reliable terms of engagement from God, to escape being a tool in the hands of the enemy. Whereas, our compassionate God has dealt with evil and satanic manipulations several times to deliver the feeble flesh from being used as trashed containers. And having found peace with God, the righteous children of God are empowered with divine nature to engage their...

  “ Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again .”” I Kings 18 : 37 NKJV The primary objective of all provoked proclaimers of the gospel is the turning of halted hearts to holy hearts. This is because the slightest displeasure or discouragement in life can halt any heart’s relationship with the Holy God. For example, when Elijah’s heart himself became halted, he ran away from Jezebel and turned to God for a suicide mission, rather than seeking God for sustenance. But here, Elijah’s humbleness was focussed on turning the halted hearts of Ahab and the people of Israel from the worship of Baals to the worship of God. It implies that halted hearts do not have any proven benefits in support of their patronage of idols or man-made gods, including materialism, socialism, and populism. Their actions and dispositions are merely a reflection of faithlessness, a statement of unbelief, and a declarati...

  “ Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.” Acts 17 : 18 NKJV The preaching of the gospel has always been strange news to sinners, backsliders, and the unrighteous systems of this world. Those who must dare to preach the gospel must be provoked by passion for souls and obedience to the mandate. Like Paul and his coworkers before the citizens of Athens in the New Testament, Elijah in the Old Testament was provoked by the need to preach the gospel to Ahab and the backslided people of Israel. Therefore, the three common lifestyles of provoked proclaimers include (1) being treated as strange fellows and babblers; (2) being threatened by exhaustion and depletion of the basic things of life; and (3) being blessed by consistent heavenly resources at the time of needs. Unfortunately, those who are...

  “ But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed .” Acts 16 : 25 - 26 NKJV If only men can understand the potency of prayer, there will be little or no longer attention to the politics of power. In the days of God’s power at the early church and behind the prison doors, the politics of power riveted the prisoners to their invisible chains and stocks, despite the fact that the potent prayer had resulted in the incredible “ so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed ”. And while reality of the potent prayer almost led the prison jailers to commit suicide, the prisoners were merely listening to the prayers of Paul and Silas…completely blinded to the potency of prayer. Pr...

  “ Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. ” Psalms 78 : 3 - 4 NKJV Manifestation of works is the evidence of active living; and a reflection of the supporting supernatural influence towards the living. We cannot sit on the fence: we will either show the wonderful works of God or manifest the wicked works of the devil. Whereas, the wonderful works can be easily rendered by the testimonies of God’s healing from sicknesses, the supernatural deliverances from the satanic setups, and divine guidance through our different stages of confusions in life. Unfortunately, when we cover up these beautiful experiences and pretend as though these manifestations are the reflections of our personal skills and creativity, we will succeed in bringing up new generations of people that are alienated from the grace of Go...