Heralds Digest

  “ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me .”” Isaiah 6 : 8 NKJV While it is simply bad for any man to be used against God’s purpose and plan, it is not good enough for anyone to be used without the alignment of his personal will with the will of God. There is a significant difference in the following terms: (1) being used by God; (2) being used for God; and (3) being useful to God. To be used by God appears to imply the use of a utensil against its freewill. For example, Jonah was used by God to preach to the city of Nineveh against his self will. God is sovereign, and His purposes and plans are superior to man’s intentions and preferences. Therefore, anyone can be used by God, especially against the will of the utensil. For the part of being used for God, this is a pitiable release of services by the utensil, without being mindful of the perfect will of God. For example, the services of Isaiah b...

  “ We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses ” II Corinthians 6 : 3 - 4 NKJV Fruitfulness in ministry is the product of fellowship with the people and God, but the risk in a mixed ministry is always phenomenal. The church and all assemblies for believers’ social impacts are not expected to be a cathedral for saints. In fact, they are specially designed to be the congregation of saints with the afflicted, oppressed, inspired, intoxicated, abused, misused, disused, etc. If those who claimed to be the light of the world cannot shine out for those who are in darkness to see, then there is something wrong with the light luminance. Therefore, the major problem in ministry is not so much about the challenges with mixed ministry or the social decadence in our world; but rather the compromise with mixed ministers of the gospel. When Apostle Pau...

“ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. ” II Corinthians 5:20-21 NKJV In one of Louis S. Zamperini (January 26, 1917 – July 2, 2014)’s biographical films, Unbroken (2014), the agenda of every Ambassador of a country or sovereign was sufficiently demonstrated. As an American World War II veteran, and an Olympic distance runner, Louis’ unbroken spirit and resilience against torture by Japanese military personnel—specifically including Mutsuhiro Watanabe in the different prisoners of war camps demonstrated his allegiance to the U.S. And his belief in forgiveness and conversion as a Christian evangelist later led him back to Japan in pursuit of reconciliation with the prison guard Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe (who was later included in a list of the forty most wanted war criminals in Japa...

  “ He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? ” Micah 6 : 8 NKJV When someone says “ the two greatest days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why? ”, his first referenced day would probably be the physical birth day. Meanwhile, some spiritually-focused person will prefer to reference the day the soul is redeemed into the family of God; and delivered from carnality. And although the second referenced day has no competition, not many people navigate life with a sense of divine purpose. While a self-centred life is focussed on the attainment of personal pride, prosperity, position, and privileges for the consumption of personal pleasure and prestige, God has outlined through prophet Micah here the principles for a purpose-driven personality - which are (1) doing justly to others; (2) extending love and mercy to others; and (3) walking humbly with God on...

  “ 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...