Heralds Digest

  “ Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness .” Romans 6 : 16 , 20 NKJV The misconception of freedom is the ability to exercise personal decision on life’s matter without any external interference. This deception from the pit of hell has always been the excitement to ignore the ‘thou shalt not’ mindset of the commandments of the Lord. Adam and Eve can tell the true story of the fake freedom outside the garden of Eden. Yes, it is a fake freedom and a voluntary entrapment into the den of satanic manipulations and unending enlistment as agents of unrighteousness, with consequent attendance with emotional disturbance, anxiety, and wickedness. Being created as a free moral agent doesn’t command absolute freedom from spiritual influence. Therefore, every man by the depravi...

  “ His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loves the gates of Zion More than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah ” Psalms 87 : 1 - 3 NKJV The best of life’s accomplishments is a celebration of breakthrough and excellence in career, business, ministry, and even a natural birth in a family. For example, when a man is born naturally, the people rejoice with the family in celebration. Whereas, this best of breakthrough and excellence in man reflects an insignificant possibility in every man, originally created in the image of God. God created man to be a reflection of His love and holiness. Unfortunately, when the depravity of sin robbed man of God’s virtue of love and holiness, the best of breakthrough and excellence in man became a symphony of filthy and inglorious rags before God. Thereafter, God’s redemption plan offers the hope of salvation and restoration. And, to be born again is to invoke the celebration of heaven an...

  “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend. ” Proverbs 17 : 17 - 18 NKJV Parties in all healthy relationships know both what it means to love at all times, and how to foolishly shake hands in a pledge. Friendship is all about an enduring burning, while bearing the burden of love and togetherness in marriage, family, fellowship, and business relationships. The only challenge is that there is no friend like Jesus, who is born for adversity. Apart from Jesus, everyone in any friendship relationship is hopeful of some returns of investment, even if it is a promissory note. Therefore, every believer is expected to always keep the understanding that Jesus is the first friend. And with this understanding and the enabling grace provided, believers can actually emulate the friendship lifestyle of Jesus in their business, societal, and family relationships. In fact, if every ...

  “ Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, And save the son of Your maidservant. Show me a sign for good, That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. ” Psalms 86 : 16 - 17 NKJV It is a lame ideology for anyone to attempt the show of life with just his physical strength. When bullies strike, they understand their checks and bounds. Otherwise, they get easily run down, disgraced and disregarded by stronger bullies. But when prophet Amos responded to his bully in the veil of priest Amaziah “ I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit. Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock, And the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel (Amos 7 : 14 - 15 )”, he attested to the authority behind his mandate. Unfortunately, most bullies are often too proud to recognize the stronger strength in the almighty God, even when the mercy...

  “ Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream. ” Amos 5 : 23 - 24 NKJV If justification before God is achievable by works, there can be no doubt in the expectation of sanity in hell than in heaven. With the countless robbery in this world’s justice system with bags of money,  position influence, and the shunting lifestyle by the status of men, smart and influential people would be readily prepared to bribe God with sacrifices of works and donations, leaving the truly righteous people begging for space. Thankfully, the just has lived and shall live by faith in God alone, leaving the truly righteous child of God with his pursuit of righteousness by the grace of God. Even when injustices extend like a pendulum on a free fall in this world’s system of administration and adjudication, God’s justice system remains juicy for those who choose to l...

  “ Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy? ” Amos 3 : 7 - 8 NKJV From times immemorial, fainting fist or the lack of forthrightness has never been based on the loss of physical strength. Fainting fist is mostly due to discouragement and emotional disturbances. Particularly, as regards consistent confidence in the promises of God, we often see our physical constraints, financial incapabilities, and social instabilities more than the sovereignty, omnipotence, and the infallibility of God. Whereas, whatever is truly revealed by God stands the test of time, twists, threats and turns, in spite of any man’s fainting fist. Unfortunately, the human brain is wired to respond to the five senses (taste, smell, hear, touch, and sight) more than to the divine callout of God’s saints with faithful fists. Little wonder, His two rhetorical questions to prophe...

  “ For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. ” Romans 2 : 28 - 29 NKJV “ My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways (Proverbs 23 : 26 )” implies the Father’s understanding that the feet cannot be hard if the heart is not soft. The circumcision of the flesh, leaving the heart untouched, makes anyone merely religious and rebellious against the commandments of the Lord. But when the heart is truly circumcised, it becomes responsive to the Spirit of God, sensitive to the commandments of God, and very hostile to the ways of the world and all forms of unrighteousness. Unfortunately, many religious people prefer the practice of humility or loyalty to the plight of worldly influencers, political godfathers, and business or project financiers, at the expense of a ...