Heralds Digest

  “ And in those times there was no peace to the one who went out, nor to the one who came in, but great turmoil was on all the inhabitants of the lands. But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul; and He was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around .” II Chronicles 15 : 5 , 7 , 15 NKJV The resounding rest in the reign of king Asa merely testified that peace is not necessarily the absence of surrounding turmoils, trials, and tribulations, but the presence of the sovereign God. When the heart of man absolutely surrenders to the surrounding presence of the King of kings and the Lord of lords, it experiences a resounding rest even in the surrounding turmoils, trials, and tribulations. The currency of God’s promised rest is never ever devalued by the surrounding turmoils, trials, and tribulations; but rather it gets ...

  “ So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.” II Chronicles 11 : 17 NKJV Having just lost the ten tribes of Israel, everyone would expect the downgrading of king Rehoboam’s military might and physical strength to translate to weakness. However, the report suggested otherwise. Judah and Jerusalem became the favourite Disney land for the Levites and “ those from all the tribes of Israel, such as set their heart to seek the Lord God of Israel ”. And for the first three years of Rehoboam’s delight in the Lord, he remained strengthened and strong. Unfortunately, the ways of the world, self pleasing and the knowledge of evil caught up with the compromising king, leading to the practice of idolatry, unrighteousness, and all forms of wickedness. And the converse definitely became “ So they weakened the kingdom of Judah…” . Even though these ways have always...

  “ But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way…And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 12 : 31 ; 13:13 NKJV It is not surprising that the most desirable way out of wicked experiences in life is primarily faith, and thereafter hope. Faith prides in its ability to remove the mountains of opposition, oppression, and obstacles to human existence, extension, and enterprise; while hope provides the confidence in the expected relief, no matter how long it takes. Whereas, God often desires an alternative way of setbacks to believers’ expectations because of His nature of love. Intentionally, love suffers long and is kind; does not envy; does not parade nor puff up itself; does not behave rudely; does not seek its own nor get provoked into evil; does not rejoice in iniquities but rejoices in the truth; bears all things; believes all things; hopes all things; and endures all things…because it is the w...

  “ Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes .” Song of Solomon 2 : 15 There is no doubt that as made in the image of God, we are designed as fruitful branches of the true vine for sweetness, succulence, and sustainable grapes. However, while it is not hard to know that we all need the abiding grafting into the true vine to remain fruitful, it has always been difficult to personally rid off the little foxes that spoil the vines or produce vain vines in life. Just as intimate relationship with God through consistent meditation in His words and prayer provides victorious vines, unequal yokes with worldly standards and compromises promote the production of vain vines. Unfortunately, the little foxes are mostly inconsequential in appearances and appeals of styles, statements, and expressions around the family discussions, social networking, and workplace interactions. Political diplomacy, institutional policy, and cultural respects h...

  “ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.” II Chronicles 7 : 14 - 15 NKJV “ Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place ” suggests the receipt of the reference place of prayer, fully decorated by humility. More than a go-to place or temple for prayer in the Old Testament, the believer's heart is now the temple of God - a desirable place for the worship of God through humility, honour, and holiness. Unfortunately, human invention today has hijacked the hearts and reserved the same as a proud place for hypocrisy, heresies, and hatred. Obviously, a heart that is filled with his own ways and wisdom cannot subject itself to seeking the face of God for help. Whereas, a prayer place is a humble heart reserved for the ...

  “ indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. ” II Chronicles 5 : 13 - 14 NKJV It is instructive to note that God’s glory is not necessarily in the plurality of activities, but rather in the singularity of voices. When the plurality of activities is promoted, competition tears down the unity of purpose in the family, workplaces, and any community with the assembly of people. Imagine the disturbance in a discordant tune that could have emanated from an orchestra with 120 trumpeters, and probably similar numbers of players of cymbals and ...

  “ The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples see His glory. ” Psalms 97 : 5 - 6 NKJV The major objective of the enemy in the affairs of God’s elect is the mesmerizing of their brains with whispers of insurmountable mountains, like sickness, failure, disappointment, inferiority complex, etc. And those who pay serious attention to social media, news bulletins, and the threats of bullies are readily scattered, shattered, and shunted. But those who stand like the rock of Gibraltar on the promises of the Lord and at the presence of the Lord often see melting mountains with their heavenly binoculars. Why? The appearances of mountains in this world cannot and haven’t been able to withstand the declarations of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Those whose focus is truly on the worship and service of the great King and Lord are never distracted by the whispers ...