Heralds Digest

  “ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” ” Romans 10 : 14 - 15 NKJV If the words of a tale bearer are like tasty trifles, the gospel in the mouth truth bearer must bring gracious goodness. Little wonder, only wise people share these glad tidings of good things. When the scripture says to Joshua “ Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses (Joshua 1 : 3 )”, it wasn’t a declaration of 100% promise to irresponsible souls. The good news or gospel is actually the declaration of 100% peace, promotion, and preservation to responsible souls, who would accept the escape route from punishment, penury, and perdition. Unfortunately, “ How t...

  “ And as Isaiah said before: “Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah.” As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. ”” Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭29‬, ‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The story of redemption for the people of Israel in the Old Testament is synonymous to the salvation experience of the New Testament’s believers in Jesus Christ. The saved seeds are the remnants who believed in the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross for salvation from dead works and justification by faith in the finished works of grace. Although the provision is finished and dusted, our response to the provision is still voluntary and personal:  “ Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame ”. The primary benefit of the saved seeds is that they are the planting of the Lord; and they cannot be up...

  “ Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; The righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them. ” Hosea 14 : 9 NKJV The advances of knowledge in these last days suggest the multiplicity of the supposedly wise ways or foolishness. Otherwise, life’s challenges and national problems will be easily resolved within the conference of philosophers and the assembly of sages. But the scriptural revelation is that only the ways of the Lord are right, in just about everything in our lives. Therefore, we should seek advances in knowledge, opportunities, and privileges to discover more of the ways of God; and not rather turn away from Him and His counsels. Unfortunately, even the learned and supposedly righteous people will expect the patronage of their wisdom and understanding on personal lifestyles, current affairs, family projects, and national issues, without recourse to the counsels of God. These undo...

  “ For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him. O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You .” Psalms 89 : 6 - 8 NKJV The movers of this world are respected shakers or shockers of love; and it is understandable why people who desperately need a shake of love to make advances or necessary movement in life do catch cold when these movers sneeze. Unfortunately, fellowship with these mundane movers often requires compromise in believers’ desirable fellowship or intimate relationship with God. And when Paul submitted a rhetorical question “ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ”, he attested to the reality of persecution that awaits anyone who dare disrespect a mundane mover, in reverence of the mightier mover. And like the psalmist affirms the faithfu...

  “ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. ” Romans 8 : 11 NKJV The concept of liberalism on the basis of freedom of the flesh has always been the greatest deception from the pit of hell. This carnal freedom offers a voluntary license to the enemy to cage the flesh into all forms of unrighteousness, wickedness, and sin. But a truly liberalized life is a life of the spirit of God, breaking the heart and mind from fleshly frivolity, moral messes, and the great Goliath in every believer’s daily living. And speaking of GOLIATH, the liberalized life is free from (1) greed that makes the flesh overtly unsatisfied by God’s provisions, (2) offences against humanity and God, provoking the wrath of God, (3) lust that indulges the flesh into immoral tendencies and appeals, (4) idleness and licentious waste of time on unproductive activities, ...

  “ Lord, why do You cast off my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me? I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth; I suffer Your terrors; I am distraught. ” Psalms 88 : 14 - 15 NKJV There are several propositions as to the reasons for unanswered prayer, but the only scriptural revelation is sin and unrighteousness. Otherwise, the prayer line that is free from unrighteousness is always laced with sincere and timely help. Therefore, when the psalmist cried out “ Lord, why do You cast off my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me? ”, he was actually unloading the sincere and timely help from the Lord with the possible revelation of the unrighteousness that is keeping the face of the Lord away from him. Answers to prayers doesn’t often start by taking away pains from the head; it commences by drawing peace from God into the heart of man. Like it revealed unto Ephraim, the holy helpline invites believers into the presence of God with clean hands and pure hearts. Unfortun...

  “ 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...