Heralds Digest

  “ Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ” Philippians 3 : 12 , 14 NKJV While personal purpose and ambitions change with time and interest, God’s purpose for each of His children never change. Unfortunately, lack of vision and revelation from God makes restrictions out of men’s personal purpose and ambitions in life. Although we often cry fouls to fellow men’s actions and inaction as agents of discomfort, discouragement, depression and disappointment, the overriding factor for human underperformance in God’s economy is the lack of vision and revelation from God. Vision and revelation from God influence every man’s marching orders. Therefore, in spite of the opposition, challenges and fellowship of suffering in the ministry of Apostle Paul, we will discover vision and revelation as the s...

  “ Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, And from the multitude of mountains; Truly, in the Lord our God Is the salvation of Israel.” Jeremiah 3 : 23 NKJV The reason why the productivity level of any state is determined by the government policies and programmes for the youth is obvious. The youth bracket carries the labour force for either usefulness or wastefulness. Therefore, the scriptural admonition for usefulness in life for any youth remains “ Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them ( Ecclesiastes 12 : 1 )”. Invariably, the sum total of the usefulness of human engagement in life is measured by every believer’s devotion to divine guidance. Many lords, superiors, colleagues and companions will often attempt to take the driver seat of control or manipulation in life’s affairs and devotion; the wholesome works of the King of kings and the Lord of lo...

  “O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.” Psalms 115 : 9 - 11 NKJV Evidently, those who flip and flop along the path of uprightness failed to understand ‘what and who’ is God. This is the reason why the psalmist had to say repeatedly to Israel and the house of Aaron ‘trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield’. Even today, believer’s uprightness is limited by a trust in material provisions, momentary promotion, and motionless prosperity. While these mindless help and assistance are mere currencies for human convenience, they often expose the hearts to corruption and conflagration before the Almighty God. Invariably, those who ply the highway of materialism may pretend to love God rhetorically, they clearly understand their fallen state of idolatry. Whereas, the true God is both a Sun and a Shiel...

  “ Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches .” Proverbs 24 : 3 - 4 NKJV The difference between healthy and haughty houses is crystal clear, starting from the foundation to the selection of the different constituting materials. Without prejudices to the pitiable ends of houses built on faulty foundations, haughtiness and human considerations for quick gains make many people on solid foundations to consider the wayward options to winning the race of life. When believers tell lies and engage in sharp corners secretly for greedy gains, they end up erecting haughty houses that offer shelter without homes, properties without prosperity, and material riches without meaningful rest of mind. Little wonder the scriptures refer to the characteristics of healthy houses of the hearts as in “ Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established “. For example, King Solom...

  “ Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob, Who turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a fountain of waters.” Psalms 114 : 7 - 8 NKJV While found recently a little bit disturbed by the raging waves of wickedness and evil, the Lord’s response was astonishingly distilled “ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5 : 16 )”. Understandably, all of God’s commandments and instructions in life are not actually  burdensome; rather they are revelations of God’s blessings and the embodiment of His grace. Therefore, “ Let your light so shine before men“ was understood as a call to underscore the power of the Lord’s light to quench the darts of darkness and wickedness. Unfortunately, when believers tremble before the strongholds of wickedness and unrighteousness, we merely ignore the prevailing power of the presence of the Lord within. Whereas, the weapo...

  “ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord .” Ephesians 5 : 8 - 10 NKJV The evidence of life transformation and deliverance from darkness is not in the rhetoric. There are always many professors with apt teaching capabilities of the gospel of light; but only few among them are possessors with honest doing characteristics of a lighthouse. The evidence of a lighthouse, according to Apostle Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians, is “ Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord ”. The unfortunate excuse of the gross darkness in today’s marketplace, workplace, and the social lifestyle of people, partners, and principals notwithstanding, the Lord’s lighthouse would readily overcome wickedness with goodness, unrighteousness...

  “ Surely he will never be shaken; The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; He will not be afraid, Until he sees his desire upon his enemies .” Psalms 112 : 6 - 8 NKJV Unthreatened desires are always appearing decent until they get provoked by evil and wicked activities of our broken world. Thereafter, men are emboldened to act as men, showing their temerity and toughness with decisiveness. Unfortunately, many homes, establishments and relationships are broken and destroyed by these vengeful dispositions to human flaws, fickleness, and fraudulence. And none of life’s examples of godly homes, ministries and relationships have ever been sustained without a decisive forbearance of human inadequacies. Therefore, delightful desires have always earned the virtue of trusting in the Lord and not getting manipulated by evil tidings. These dispositions are gifts of the ...