Heralds Digest

  “ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” ” Genesis 18 : 14 NKJV Just as the words of kings shape kingdoms, and the words of presidents govern policies in nations, the words of God establish activities both in heaven and on the earth. Notwithstanding, life is defined by seemingly impossible situations, apparently irretrievable breakdown in relationships, and almost impossible challenges or circumstances beyond the capabilities of kings and presidents. For Abraham and Sarah, old age and the breakdown or expiration of the natural law of childbearing spelt ‘impossibility’ to their abilities to crack. The reality in the faith circles is that it is easier to provide a positive affirmation to the question “ Is anything too hard for the Lord? “, than living out the rhetoric. Just as Abraham and Sarah laughed within their hearts to the possibility of childbearing at old age, believers ca...

  “ For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. ” Matthew 5 : 46 - 48 NKJV Isn’t it true that those who hate are in dare need of love? Hatred and hostility are true reflection of the absence of the influence of the God of mercy. And when the natural response to hate and hostility invites the extension of hate and hostility, the absence of the influence of the God of mercy is promoted. Whereas, believers are called to be the reflection of the God of mercy in our day-to-day social lifestyle, work engagements and family relationships. Therefore, mercy mirror extends the mercy of God to all, including the haters and hostility drivers, for the exhibition of the God of mercy. “ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect ...

  “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.” Psalms 5 : 3 NKJV Human response to  a reliable SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats) analysis on life’s project depends on personal perspectives. For example, Abram and Lot responded differently over the land distribution project in Canaan. Now the benefit of scriptural hindsight, where Lot’s assessment depended on a reliable SWOT analysis, teaches that healthy help is not always a holy help. Since God is always the source of every believer’s holy help, it is understandable why the psalmist cried “ My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You “. Therefore, each day in the New Year must start with the Lord, in order to avoid hasty generalization in project meetings, business propositions, partnerships and residency. It is better to align the outcome of SWOT analysis within the premises of divine guidance, t...

  “ Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer .” Psalms 4 : 1 NKJV Thank God for the first Sunday or Sabbath in the New Year. What a day of rest! Without prejudice to those who are necessarily, or by emergency, must work today, the rest from the Lord is not in the day; but the true rest is in the Lord, who gives righteousness to His people by His grace. Even in the deepest of distress, the psalmist found rest in the God of his righteousness. It implies that rest is not in the absence of hostility, but in the presence of the Holy God in the heart of His redeemed. When He said ‘Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ’, He meant restful righteousness. Therefore, before you list stuffs on the covenant slip for the New Year, let restful righteousness top the list. When you truly find restful righteousness, you become completely blessed by the Lord to enjoy the best of ...

  “ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1 : 7 NKJV All-round success and breakthrough in life, career and ministry is not limited to the attainment of material riches, political authority, and professional advancement. In fact, the maintenance of human sanity, dignity, and the attained prosperity requires a special kind of wisdom. Otherwise, the fear of losing out completely, even in the midst of affluence, becomes a strong and potent concern. This is the reality and the dilemma of the fools’ fear. The fool can grow in the wisdom and philosophy of generating material and intellectual riches; but this feat is often pursued at the expense of obedience to the commandments of the Lord. Whereas, divine wisdom embraces the fear of the Lord and attentiveness to His instructions, as we interact and manage the challenges with our professional, family, career, workplace, and social activities in the New Year. Beyond God’s...

  “ After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. ” Genesis 5 : 22 - 24 NKJV The relationship of men in the antediluvian dispensation with God can be simply classified into two categories, namely white walk and wicked walk. Based on the consequences of the fall of man, many characters stood out with pride during this dispensation for their passion for unrighteousness, wickedness, and evil. But contrary to the lot on wicked walk, Enoch and Noah stood out with a simple acknowledgment of their white walk as ‘…walked with God!’ ; and God literally took away both of them from the ‘wicked’ lot. As the New Year starts, believers are encouraged to acknowledge the ugly influences of the ‘wicked walk’ in the past year, and begin an amazing ‘white walk ’ with God. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His wo...

  “ Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. ” Psalms 2 : 8 NKJV Surely, the New Year brings fresh opportunities and the prospect of great possessions. Likewise, the possibilities of diverse interests and alternative sources for guidance and instruction are enormous. The most important question is ‘what is the deep delight for the best possession’?  Only those who can find the answer in Jesus are safe. Unfortunately, the people of the earth are already plagued with deep displeasure through their penchant for vain things. Like it happened to Cain in the Old Testament and king Herod in the New Testament, “ Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? (Psalms 2 : 1 )” couldn’t spare anyone who hasn’t been redeemed from the fall and wouldn’t embrace the express revelation in the divine counsels. Notwithstanding, the New Year still offers everyone a fresh opportunity to access “ The nations for ...