Heralds Digest

  “ For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— ” Titus 1 : 5 NKJV Like someone said to me recently, “ excuses are excuses, performance is performance ”. Experts in fault-finding and disorderliness spotting have no supply shortage categorization in all nations, economies, and systems of the world. And in Crete, disorderliness appears to be a decent phenomenon. Like ordinary citizens of Crete, talks about ordinary orderliness are cheap; but only time and talent devotion to turn disorderliness to orderliness could make the difference. Therefore,  Apostle Paul appears to have said to Titus “ let’s cutoff the excuses…about the disorderliness to ordinary orderliness..can you make it happen?” . The face of ordinary orderliness in life is always one ordinary individual out of nowhere, but fully surrendered into the hands of an extraordinary God with supernatural capabilities. An...

  “ Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way .”  Psalms 119 : 97 , 104 NKJV One of the drawbacks of liberal mindsets is the freedom to explore personal will, popular principles and private dedication. Unfortunately, the pursuit of knowing and doing the will of God is becoming old—-fashioned in the light of empirical evidence. Notwithstanding, the scriptural exigency for believers to ‘Take heed to thyself ’ is ever relevant to wayfaring pilgrims. And to sincerely love the prescribed precepts of the Lord, believers must consistently learn how to (1) Meditatively study of the word of God - 1 Timothy 4:16; (2) Dedicate oneself to God for a reasonable service - Romans 12:1-2; and (3) Devote oneself to the welfare of others - Acts 20:28.  Since the prescribed precepts would not make the promiscuous practices in our world go away, it takes only a personal devotion for anyone to love ...

  “ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. ” II Timothy 3 : 16 - 17 NKJV When the psalmist says elsewhere that “ It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes ( Psalms 119 : 71 )”, he echoes the factual revelation that the BIBLE is aimed at serving as everyone’s basic instructions before leaving earth. It is instructive to underscore the reason why God recommends meditation on His precepts as the proven prerequisite for true prosperity in life. And here Apostle Paul expounded to Timothy that besides its serving as the basic instructions for righteousness, the entire holy writ provides both reproof and correction in believers’ daily engagements or disengagement for righteousness. When we breathe in the inspired words of the Lord during our quiet time, we breathe them out...

  “ Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth .” II Timothy 2 : 14 - 15 NKJV The first responsibility of a worthy ambassador is self-recognition as a stranger in the current state of residence; and as a soldier of a foreign state. Unfortunately, this responsibility gets easily messed up by the pressure of accommodation in the current state of residence and the pursuit of approval from worldly assessors. Therefore, in Apostle Paul’s parting charge to Timothy, believers are reminded of the primary focus on God as their approver in this solemn responsibility of all ambassadors. Without prejudice to the inexhaustible list, approved ambassadors must be strong in grace to (1) love their enemies, (2) endure unfair hardness, (3) avoid quarrel and envy, (4) stand firmly on the tru...

  “ Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” II Timothy 1 : 6 - 7 NKJV The major difference between the gift of God and the gift from men is the grace of God. Without the grace of God, life is obviously full of a daily fellowship with vices, wickedness, and the forces of darkness. Depending on the variance in scale, scope and size, the only authentic evidence of a life in the real world is the cautiousness of fear, anxiety, and intimidation. Even at the centre of the will of God in all marital, work, and social relationships, no one needs to be reminded of the implications of their interactions with the gifts from men. It is the centre of attraction behind the inevitability of consistent exhortation, encouragement, and enlightenment. Whereas, it is only God’s gifts that encourage the spreading of power, the serving of love, and the...

  “ Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. ” I Timothy 6 : 17 NKJV While there is no controversy with the affluence that surrounds the pursuit of material gains in the world, including the pursuit of pursue , position, and power, these gains suck out life when they start breathing. Living materials and affluence are no longer servants on service, but masters on mission. And whenever the heart of man becomes haughty and intoxicated with pride, he is no longer in control of his abusive use of privileges, power, and position. Whereas, great gain is strictly the pursuit of the living God, irrespective of the status of exposure to material gains. As long as the living God continues to influence believers’ basic decisions or relationships, and inspires their devotions to the service of the Lord, material gains are completely suffocated and unable to breathe. Obvi...

  ““ Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the Lord. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” ’ ”” Jeremiah 45 : 4 - 5 NKJV It is always hypocritical when people admire true prosperity and despise genuine adversity. Smith Wigglesworth on the subject once wrote ‘Great faith is a product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials.’ Unfortunately, the heart of man prefers to seek great faith without great fights, great testimonies without great tests, and great triumphs without great trials. Definitely, there are gross fights, tests, and trials for prosperity or ugly adversity that are inspired by human stupidity, selfishness, and sensualit...