Heralds Digest

  “ But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.” And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side .” Mark 8 : 12 - 13 NKJV Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit in response to the Pharisees’ dispute over outstanding manifestations of the work of faith; and He would probably do more than sigh today over many people’s fact-finding disposition to the move of God in their lives and circumstances. Unfortunately, believers today do not see their signs because of their lack of faith in God, coupled with their absolute disdain for scriptural and convincing revelations of His will. Whereas, what the Lord requires from everyone is just a little faith, without which it is absolutely impossible to please God. With just a little faith to seek the Saviour, rather than seeking a sign, we stand the chance to see the wonders of God in our lives, family, work, and m...

  “ The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net. ” Psalms 25 : 14 - 15 NKJV Loyalty is built on covenant relationship; and those who are attracted by the sacred eggs from the altar of the devil should not be confused about their covenant relationship with the kingdom of darkness. Unfortunately, it does seem that carnal minds and compromisers are a bunch of deceived folks, who pledge their loyalty to the devil without understanding the eternal consequences of their relationship with doom and darkness. Whereas, every relationship of the redeemed with the Lord, through His words, reveals the sufficient secret of God’s clear covenant of peace, purity, and power. The fear of the Lord is the expression of the believer's loyalty to His revealed will and counsel; and the evidence of the believer's intimate relationship with the Lord is the revelation of His clear co...

  “ Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat .” Mark 6 : 30 - 31   Life’s performance metrics often appear to go by the quantity of mental or physical activities. The apostles had returned from the field with their proud accounts of “all things, both what they had done and what they had taught”, expecting the normal commendation. And while the commendation on life’s excellent performance, great administrative capabilities, and great resource management skills is really not out of place, Jesus’ emphasis on quiet time as life’s victorious virtue is more profound. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while”. By always doing otherwise is tantamount to running life completely with a show of mechanical skills, h...

  “ So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.” Mark 6 : 12 - 13 NKJV Life is full of planning practices and ceremonies. Essentially, orderliness and organization are divine traits, especially leading up to godliness. Even in the Old Testament, “ And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them ” takes some significant planning practices and ceaseless ceremonies “ that they may minister to Me as priests ( Exodus 30 : 30 )”. Notwithstanding, the same primary practice is emphasized by Jesus Christ’s engagement of the disciples during His earthly ministry. And if “ So they went out and preached that people should repent“ , Christ’s disciples today are primarily meant to go out…on the streets…to the workplaces…and within the neighborhood and preach that people can repent. Unfortunately, for the want of obedience and misplacement of priorities, the unsafe people in ever...

  “ Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. ” Psalms 24 : 3 - 5 NKJV Like the dedication of Aaron and his sons for the priesthood involves the wearing of holy garments, including the ephod, breastplate and the coat of mail with the engraving ‘Holiness unto the Lord’ , ascending into the hill of the Lord has always been the reserving of cleans hands and a pure heart. It is simply reserving the physical hands for contract signing and report writing in the offices, work and waste distribution in workplaces without hypocrisy, and social engagement with cordial enlightenment, etc, with holiness and righteousness. Unfortunately, many people would not readily see the motivation to ascend into the hills of the Lord, especially when the hearts can assess th...

  “ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ” Psalms 23 : 1 NKJV Believer’s roam, ruin, and rumbling in the world show the need of making more than a rhyme out of Psalms 23. The enemy knows that we often believe in the wantonness of wanting than in the sufficiency of our Shepherd. Gripped by the fear of the wantonness of wanting, believers would readily carry their birthright on righteousness, truth, and confidence in God to pawn shops. Whereas, even demons and familiar spirits will see Jesus approaching and cry out with loud voices “ What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me ( Mark 5 : 7 NKJV )”. Therefore, why do we always agree to be tormented by the wantonness of wanting, given the sufficiency of our Shepherd? Actually, the Lord is every believer’s shepherd…and not just the psalmist’s shepherd; and those whose confidence is rested in this divine revelation shall not want protection, provisions, and prese...

  “ A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this. ” Psalms 22 : 30 - 31   There is no doubt that the essence of all human relationships in life is fruitfulness and productivity. People readily sever unproductive and unfruitful relationships as detestable. Unfortunately, human judgement on almost all relationships, including partnerships, marriages, and collaborations, are always wrong with transient potency as fame fizzles, favour falls, and fashion fades. Needless to say that relationships built on falsehood do not always stand the test of time. But the story with every believer’s relationship with the words of God is different. Using the illustration in the parable of the sower, relationships built on the interaction of the word of God with open, sincere, and hungry hearts is always fruitful with ever abounding bounties. Whereas, wrong re...