Heralds Digest

  “ But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; With favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield .” Psalm 5 : 11 - 12 KJV New Year resolutions or not, there is no doubt that everyone sets out at the beginning of 2026 for a desirable lifting in his family, career, business, and social life. The demands for lifting have been overwhelming in recent times, leading to many people’s reluctance in making a straight decision with their lifting options. In the days of Abram and Lot in the Old Testament, the straightforward life lift option made Lot settle for Sodom and Gomorrah. Without relying on the knowledge of hindsight, Lot’s life lift option represents the way of the majority, even today. A desirable lifting is readily defined by economic life standards, financial strength,  architectural appeal, etc. And just as ...

  “ Thou hast put gladness in my heart, More than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. ” Psalm 4 : 7 - 8 KJV The scriptures say elsewhere about spiritual prosperity that “ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God (Matthew 5 : 8 )” because material prosperity often lead the heart away from God. Material prosperity, including academic achievements, career progression, financial independence, social superiority, political influence, etc, makes the heart proud; and it is not surprising why this grievous gladness via material prosperity often unsettle the safety and stability of sane systems. Therefore, pure prosperity is empowered by gracious gladness in the heart and believer’s intimate relationship with God. It is greater, richer, and higher than material prosperity because of its guarantee of peace and safety in all circumstances. Even in the absence of mater...

  “ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction. ” Proverbs 1 : 7 KJV When Pastor WF Kumuyi defined a FOOL in his New Year message, titled ‘Digging Deep, even Deeper, for a Divinely Desired Fruit-bearing ’, as a person with an act of ‘Forfeiting Opportunity of Life ’, anyone can rightly see the contrast from the faithful’s fear of the LORD. Truly, fools despise wisdom and instruction from the LORD in pursuit of the offer of opportunities from Satan. As demonstrated by the episode of Satan’s offerings to Jesus Christ, fool’s desirable opportunities come in the form of food, fame, and fortunes; but the faithful’s fear is always solid on standing on the commandments and promises of the LORD. It is absolutely useless for believers, who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Saviour and desire to keep and do His will in the New Year, to even consider the option of accepting food, fame and fortune offers from fraudulent sources. Unfort...

  “ But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; My glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, And he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah .” Psalm 3 : 3 - 4 KJV A shield based on human fellowship and collaboration has been more sophisticated in recent times, compared to the days of Enoch and Noah; but the principle of its corruption or compromise is still valid. For example, the shield of king David on his family members and associates was complicated by the engagement of his son Absaloam as the chief conspirator and persecutor. And the best of life’s offerings is the shifting of allegiance on shield from one mountain to another, with apparent distraction from the LORD as every believer’s sure shield.  Whereas, as the psalmist realized, God is the only sure shield of all believers for His sovereignty, uprightness, righteousness, and endurance. Based on His sovereignty, He is the only One capable of ‘the lifter up of mine head ’ stint amidst the d...

  “ Why do the heathen rage, And the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, And cast away their cords from us .” Psalm 2 : 1 - 3 KJV When Apostle Paul defended elsewhere his pursuit of the victorious vision before king Agrippa with “ I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision” (Acts  26:19), he indirectly confronted the penchant of the kings of the earth for vain vision. The root of disobedience and rebellion in the world is the self-inflicted imagination of the heart against the counsel and commandment of the Lord. Unfortunately, as it was with the fall of man at the garden of Eden, so it is now with human advances in knowledge, position of authority, and material prosperity. Whereas, it is always a vain vision for anyone (especially followers of Christ and those who claim the understanding of the will of God) to diso...

  “ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish.” Psalm 1 : 1 - 2 , 6 KJV The problem with the concept of New Year resolutions is that the resolutions are results focussed, including new walkout goals, new diet habits, new relationship models for family, social, and workplace partners, etc. We know that these results resolutions are hard to keep and maintain with the best of human strategies. When Thomas Edition acclaimed ‘Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration ’, he probably believed in the divine order of the 1% inspiration in the 100% success principle. Remove the 1 ahead of the 100 and you’ll get zero, NOT 99! Little wonder the psalmist clearly adopted a righteous resolution strategy, instead of ...

  “ Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God. ”” Revelation 22 : 9 NKJV It is natural for any man to worship what or who he appreciates. Unfortunately, when we replace the worship of God for the worship of people and things that command our respect on the basis of their performances, we automatically break our allegiance to God and His commandments. For example, the wholesome performance of the angel with the revelation of the eschatological events was highly impressive to John the Beloved; and he was reasonably moved to worship the angel for this performance. Absolutely, there is nothing wrong with our showing of gratitude with appreciation; but it is always difficult for the heart of man to draw the line or boundary that can definitely separate appreciation from worship. Thankfully, the angel responded with a profound principle: Worship God! And ...