Heralds Digest

  “ Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy ” I Peter 4 : 12 - 13 NKJV Strange is always sweet in God’s economy; but it takes a daily supply of grace for anyone to ride along the flow. Using the spirit illustration of  the flow of healing waters to Ezekiel, the supply comes in incremental versions until “ Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed ( Ezekiel 47 : 5 )”. With the evidence of divine guidance through the passages in life, career, and ministry, it is always sweet to be brought through the waters of supposed sufferings and shame, as long as the glory of God is up for grab at the end of the flow. Little wonder why Apos...

  “ Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God .” I Peter 3 : 3 - 4 NKJV Beauty contests are judged on the basis of outward adornment. Even those who are naturally endowed with beauty are assessed by what people can see, given a strong backing for the promotion of cosmetics, fashion designs, and jewelry. Unfortunately, these admirable adornments fade away easily and often cannot stand the test of tough times, complex conspiracies and fraudulent fights. For example, when the chips are down in times of financial stress, emotional distress, security threats, and relational discomfort, beautiful faces with arranged hair, attractive jewelry, and beautiful apparel are readily disconfigured with long faces, harsh tones, and explosive fists. Whereas, unlike most admirable ado...

  “ For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. ” Psalms 132 : 13 - 14 NKJV While the chosen cathedral in the Old Testament is a physical temple and Zion the city of God, the bodies of all redeemed of the Lord are God’s chosen generation, royal priesthood and peculiar people in the New Testament. And when the lively stones of this cathedral undergo the necessary renovation, remodeling, and reconstruction in life’s affairs through suffocation, suffering and sometime shame, it is normal for the outbursts “ where is God? ”. Whereas, “ This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it ” has always indicated that God remains in His chosen cathedral as long as holiness and righteousness are preserved. Unfortunately, the enemies’ activities and threats “ I will deal with you ” has often been given relevance over the unfailing assurances from God. Therefore, i...

  “ Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever ” I Peter 1 : 22 - 23 NKJV The difference between the saving grace and the growing grace is clear. Without the latter, it is an obvious phenomenon to have a stunted, stagnated, and starved experience in growth relationships. Unfortunately, much of the readily available resources for growth requires the responsibility of every saved believer to appropriate; while the hearts are easily wired to ever learning and never doing. “ Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart “ shows the unceasing ingredients for spiritual growth. Feeding daily on the revealed truth or the undiluted word of God is one thi...

  “ Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” James 5 : 7 - 8 NKJV The analogy of prayer with seed farming speaks to the necessity of patience and perseverance, while waiting for the coming of the Lord in all of believers’ spiritual relationships. A farmer by trade has developed so much faith in the soil or earth to the extent that his labour and sweat on the seed sowing exercises are laced with the ease of patience and perseverance. When we start sowing prayer like seeds on the altar in our secret place, it gradually becomes an act of faith that grows eventually into a solid evidence of the manifestation of the power of God. Believers’ prayer may not stop the avalanche of droughts, but patience and perseverance in prayer do readily see the turning...

  “ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4 : 6 , 10 NKJV When the scriptures speak about the heart of man as the source of the explosive evil in our world, it decimated all human combats and peace accords against the power of evils. As Albert Einstein once said, ‘I do not fear the explosive power of the atom bomb. What I fear is the explosive power of evil in the human heart.' Unfortunately, pride and unwillingness to submit under the power of God often make believers to champion the course of evil in our homes, workplaces, institutions, and societies. Whereas, what we all need on a daily basis is more grace to be humble; and evil will be completely stamped out from all circles within our sphere of influence. Whenever we get subdued by evil, we make mistakes with our assumptions, suspicions, and accusations; but when more grace comes with ...

  “ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace .” James 3 : 17 - 18 NKJV Wise works are usually misrepresented as proud works until they are proven otherwise. This is because carnal wisdom does nothing better than self-projection and image laundering, through the building of personal profiles by breaking down peaceful participation. Whereas, the actual wise works do exactly the opposite of the deliverables of carnal wisdom. Truth be told, there is no way the true wise works can operate with purity, peace, gentleness, submission, mercy, and goodness in our polluted world, without the divine connection of the heart of man and the spirit of God. Little wonders why our works and social interactions are readily polluted by envy, malice, and wickedness, whenever the heart is left to take care of...