Heralds Digest

  “ For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’” Acts 27 : 23 - 24 NKJV Life’s experiences and its challenges can be likened to a voyage in a ship on a stormy sea. When Apostle Paul found himself among the company of 276 travellers in a troubled ship, everyone had lost hope of survival until the appearance of the presence of God to Paul. It turned out that no life was lost because of the presence of God, despite the loss of properties, time, and even the ship. The message ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar ‘ was a reminder of the divine mission behind Paul’s conviction to go to Jerusalem in the first place. It implies that storms, danger, and loss of property can threaten the believer’s ship, but the mission will still be accomplished, as long as the company of the Saviour is kept in th...

  “ So these nations feared the Lord, yet served their carved images; also their children and their children’s children have continued doing as their fathers did, even to this day. ” II Kings 17 : 41 NKJV The difference between religion and relationship is simply the difference between fearful fellowship and friendly fellowship. Fearful fellowship is focussed on making demands and avoiding violation of regulations on the basis of vacating the consequences of non-compliance. Like the prevailing experiences in our nations today, immigrants and nationals from many different nations to Samaria were forced to adopt the Jewish religion only on the basis of fearful fellowship. Little wonder, they were not interested in listening to God nor getting passionate about the adoption of friendly fellowship. Whereas, God is always more interested in a friendly fellowship with His children, by the expression of their affection, love, and the entertainment of interest. When the scripture atteste...

  ““ Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance .” Acts 26 : 19 - 20 NKJV Disobedience is not necessarily an off duty disposition. Most times, disobedience demands the highest level of calling, commitment, and consecration. So, when Apostle Paul said “ I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” , it implies anyone can be dutifully disobedient to the heavenly vision. Unfortunately, this dutiful disobedience will attract the highest level of disappointment on the final day of reckoning. Those who pursued the life of the flesh and earthly vision are outrightly and defiantly disobedient to the commandments of the Lord. These people are obviously aliens and may not be disappointed knowing their fate on the day of judgment. But to be dutifully disobedient, God fo...

  “ Moreover they did not require an account from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to be paid to workmen, for they dealt faithfully.” II Kings 12 : 15 NKJV While the ministers are expected custodian of faith, the masons carry filth. Yet, the masons here or the artisans, the carpenters and builders are found worthy ambassadors of faith, in spite of their filthy engagements, challenges, and workloads. Whereas, the priests or ministers in the temple, who were earlier entrusted with the job, were found to fail the accountability test. One of the major lessons is that filth offers the manifestation of a good work ethics and faith, which mostly find relevance in stressful environments. Figuratively, the atmosphere with problems and the challenges of life is always the platform for the manifestation of integrity, honesty, and faith in God. The testimony of faith fullness often comes with several tests from filth fullness. Invariably, the filth fullness around our work ...

  “ Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts; Look down from heaven and see, And visit this vine Then we will not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name. Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved! ” Psalms 80 : 14 , 18 - 19 NKJV Although the prayer of the psalmist invited the Lord God of hosts to “ Look down from heaven and see, And visit this vine (the people of God) ”, the act of prayer in itself implies revival, restoration, and the visitation of the Lord. A praying people is a visited vine, because proud people can only plan and do not pray. So, if anything, the hedging of the vine by the vicissitudes of life, and the uproots of privileges or opportunities from God’s people are mostly the indirect visitation of God.  Therefore, the visited vine is already saved in the court of the Lord or the sacred place of prayer. And as long as we are praying, there is no longer need for “ Revive us, and we will call upon Y...

  “ Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth! Restore us, O God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!”    Psalms 80 : 1 , 7 NKJV Just as a leader’s sin is a leading sin, a leader’s shine or excellence is a leading excellence. With the astonishing examples of leading many characters from the darkness of this world’s wilderness to the mountain-top of exploits and excellence, followers of Jesus can be sure they have a luminary leader as their Hero. However, everyone needs faith in Jesus to get started, trading the ruinous sin for His righteousness. Thereafter, we can safely learn how to follow Jesus by looking daily on Him for guidance and living daily like Him for godliness. Unfortunately, our world is filled with loose leaders and celebrities with shading testimonies of unrighteousness, inconsistencies, and dishonesty, sometimes with the deceptive form of godliness but lacking ...

  “ A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. ” Proverbs 16 : 9 NKJV Every purpose has a clearly defined plan, but not every plan has a clear purpose. Human plans can readily boost of being backed by purpose and focus; but in reality, our plans are subject to myriad factors behind the control of mortal men. Even the greatest of monarchs, like Pharaoh, the wisest of sages, like Solomon, and the mightiest of emperors, like Nebuchadnezzar, have got their plans easily twisted by the irrefutable counsel of God. So, when the scriptures say “ A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps” , it implies that the best of human plans are purposeless outside the divine purpose. Unfortunately, some proud men will deliberately fight or resist the purpose of God as though it is offensively in the way of their plan to better life, better marriage, better business, better ministry, better friendship, etc. Whereas, whenever any human plan is completely surrendered...