Heralds Digest

  “ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day .” II Corinthians 4 : 7 , 16 NKJV More than ever before (no thanks to the advancement of social media and digital technologies), our culture emphasizes the importance of the outwards and the seen. Whereas, actually, the inward and the unseen (i.e., our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes) determine and control the outward behaviours. And since most human dispositions are ruled by the outward manifestations, externalities, and socio-economic indices, it is not far-fetched the realities of emotional instabilities, human social disturbances, disaffection, distrust and disunity among brethren, fear and anxiety, etc. Unfortunately, it is not possible for anyone to build his castle of treasures on the outwards and the seen; and expect its structural integrity ...

  “ What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good.” Psalms 104 : 28 NKJV If truly gracious giving commands great gathering, great gathering should compel generous giving, God’s words actually command believers to give generously because it is only the channel of blessings. Unfortunately, many people are readily blinded from the sacredness of this divine principle of blessings, favour, and prosperity, seeking after provisions from grievous giving. Giving from bribes, immorality, wickedness, and all forms of unrighteousness are evil; and they do not command great gatherings. Little wonder that scriptures attest to the fact that “ The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it ( Proverbs 10 : 22 )”. Therefore, anyone who cares less for sorrow, sickness, sadness, and satanic afflictions must be content with the great gathering of gracious giving in life, business, and ministry. Whereas, great gathering from gracious givin...

  “ Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life .” II Corinthians 3 : 5 - 6 NKJV Everyone understands the benevolence of offering a support service, but our understanding cannot offer the necessary bailout from the burden of not measuring up. The question, as always, is “ how can we ascertain a sufficient service in our pursuit of a commendable support service? ”. We need the assistance of the Holy Spirit to offer a sufficient service in life and ministry. Only the Spirit understands an acceptable, holy, and reasonable service in line with the divine counsel for our homes, society, and business engagement. Recipients of God’s mercies and grace can always attempt to jump presumptuously into the service line, but such rendezvouses have often resulted in frustrati...

  “ Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord .” II Chronicles 31 : 4 NKJV While it is ludicrous or pitiable that some believers struggled with a cheerful release of their tithes and offerings to the Lord, the offering of support for all good courses within every believer’s sphere of influence is expected to be a lifestyle. This support  service  includes believer’s extension of love and encouragement to everyone towards encouraging all to abound in their pursuit of godliness. King Hezekiah leveraged this mindset by mobilizing the citizens of Judah to support the service of the priests and the Levites. Why? “ That they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord ”. Without buying the distraction by many belly-motivated ministers on self-employment, a sincere service support is a lifestyle of showing love and godliness for all who are endowed ...

  “ My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense. ”” II Chronicles 29 : 11 NKJV In God’s parlance, appointment and anointing are mostly used interchangeably. Notwithstanding, our negligence in service often creates the difference between appointment and anointing. And when we “ do not be negligent now ” as exemplified by king Hezekiah, we are bound to experience what is called anointed appointment. It is instructive to note that king Hezekiah provoked revival in both Judah and Israel, right from the first year of his reign in Jerusalem as the king of Judah. Outside this divine appointment, human activities may attract failed initiatives, frustrated alternatives, and foolish expenditures; and mostly without an auction to function. Whereas, the amazing achievements of king Hezekiah in restoring the joint assembly of Judah and Israel (especially when Israel under her previous kin...

  “ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God .” II Corinthians 1 : 3 - 4 NKJV Usually, human intervention to conflict will either breeds comfort or conspiracies. This is often because the best of comfort received from man has an element of self service. Even in the honest disposition of comfort as community service, there is always an expectation in the receipts of self recognition, appreciation, and recommendation. And because comprehensive comfort comes only from God, God would often rather train up His children through an atmosphere soaked with wilderness experiences for the first fruits of His comprehensive comfort. A trained-up beneficiary of the comprehensive comfort from God has been a successful distributor of gracious comfort at home and in the socie...

  “ Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them. Therefore the anger of the Lord was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand? ””  II Chronicles 25 : 14 - 15 NKJV The fall of king Amaziah after his rise and divine favour shows the evil side of success and achievements. Success and worldly achievements readily attract bad companies than retaining the good ones. For example, while Amaziah’s Dad had a good company in the chief priest Jehoiada, he was properly guided and guarded against evil and unrighteousness. But immediately the chief priest died, the waiting bad companies ceased the occasion to the destruction of his fruitful fellowship with God. Funny enough, king Amariah was prevented from bad ...