THE HERALDS DEVOTIONAL

TREASURES OF DARKNESS: UNCOVERING THE STOREROOMS OF GOD PART 1: THE TREASURE IS IN THE DARK Isaiah 45:1–3, Genesis 1:2–3  “I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places…” Uncovering the Light Stored in Silence When we think of darkness, we think of confusion, loss, delay, fear, or even judgment. But God says in Isaiah 45:3: “ I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places…” That means: God stores treasures in places we often try to avoid. He hides solutions in situations we try to run from. And just like in Genesis 1 — when darkness was on the face of the deep — God didn’t panic… He spoke light into what He had already placed there. Darkness was not empty. It was a storeroom waiting to be opened. 📖 MAIN SCRIPTURES Isaiah 45:3 (NKJV): “I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places…” Genesis 1:2–3 (NKJV): “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep… Then Go...

THE LINE AND THE LAKE: WHEN OBEDIENCE MEETS UNLIKELY PROVISION PART 7: FINAL LAP: THE LINE AND THE LAKE — WHEN OBEDIENCE POSITIONS YOU FOR DESTINY Matthew 17:24-27  “…go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” NKJV   Recap (Part 6): We learned that divine provision doesn’t just meet your need—it often covers someone connected to you. Peter’s obedience didn’t only bless him, but Jesus too. God’s supply always reflects His heart: abundance for purpose, not just survival. 🔍 Focus: The Bigger Picture Let’s take a step back. What started as a tax problem ended in a divine demonstration. What began with a question ended with a miracle. Let’s break it down: The Line : A simple tool Peter once laid aside. The Lake : A familiar place where he once failed. The Hook : A tiny act of faith. The Fish : An unlikely vessel of provision. The Coin : God'...

THE LINE AND THE LAKE: WHEN OBEDIENCE MEETS UNLIKELY PROVISION PART 6: PROVISION FOR TWO — WHEN YOUR OBEDIENCE COVERS OTHERS Matthew 17:27d “…take that and give it to them for Me and you.” NKJV 🔄 Recap (Part 5): Peter obeyed the instruction to cast his line—and from the mouth of the fish came a coin. It was a reminder that God’s provision can come from strange places, but it always meets the exact need. 🔍 Focus: Obedience that Overflows Jesus could have said, “ Give it for Me .” But He said,  “ Give it to them for Me and you .” The coin wasn’t just enough for Jesus’ temple tax—it was enough for Peter too. That’s the nature of divine provision:  It rarely blesses just the one who obeys—it blesses those connected to the obedient one. This wasn’t about money alone. It was a prophetic statement: Peter, your obedience just paid for both of us. Peter, you’re not walking this road alone. Peter, what I’m doing through you will always be enough to cover you. 🧠 Pause and think: That ...

THE LINE AND THE LAKE: WHEN OBEDIENCE MEETS UNLIKELY PROVISION PART 4: THROW OUT YOUR LINE — WHEN OLD TOOLS MEET NEW INSTRUCTIONS Matthew 17:27b “...cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first.” NKJV 🔄 Recap (Part 3): Jesus told Peter to go to the sea—not to relive a painful past, but to redeem a familiar place with a fresh word. Sometimes, your next miracle is hidden in the place you once left in frustration. 🔍 Focus: Use What You Have, Even If It Feels Small Jesus didn’t say, “ Throw your net .” He said, “ Cast in a hook .” That’s one line. One hook. One fish. Peter was used to nets—big, strategic efforts. But this miracle wasn’t about size. It was about simple obedience with a small tool. We often underestimate the tools we left behind: A dormant gift A forgotten CV A shelved idea An old business plan A barely-used skill Peter had walked away from fishing—but he still had a line. He didn’t need a boat or a crowd—just obedience and the courage to cast again. 🔑 Your “ lin...

THE LINE AND THE LAKE: WHEN OBEDIENCE MEETS UNLIKELY PROVISION PART 5: THE COIN IN THE FISH — MIRACLES IN STRANGE MOUTHS Matthew 17:27c  “...and when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” NKJV 🔄 Recap (Part 4): Peter was instructed not to throw a net, but a line—a simple tool, used with divine precision. We learned that miracles aren’t about big moves but often about small, obedient ones. 🔍 Focus: Strange Carriers of Divine Supply Peter obeys. He casts his line into the lake. And from one fish’s mouth, he pulls out a coin—not just for himself, but for Jesus too. Wait… what? A fish, swimming in a lake, holding a coin, waiting for the right hook, at the right time? That’s not ordinary—that’s orchestrated by heaven. 🔑 God can place your provision in the most unexpected vessels. The question is: Will you obey long enough to reach it? This coin didn’t come through a wealthy donor or a temple treasury. It came through...

THE LINE AND THE LAKE: WHEN OBEDIENCE MEETS UNLIKELY PROVISION PART 3: GO TO THE LAKE — RETURNING TO FAMILIAR PLACES WITH FRESH FAITH Matthew 17:27a “Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea...” NKJV   Recap (Part 2) : Jesus reminded Peter—and us—that sons are free. As children of the King, we operate from a place of identity, not pressure. Still, Jesus chose to pay the temple tax—not because He had to, but because He walked in wisdom, humility, and peace. 🔍 Focus: Returning with a New Instruction Jesus says: “ Go to the sea. ” This may sound simple, but for Peter, the sea (or lake) wasn’t just water—it was his past profession, his place of struggle, his old way of living. Remember Luke 5? Peter fished all night and caught nothing—until Jesus stepped into his boat. That sea held memories of frustration, empty nets, and breakthrough. Now Jesus says: “ Go back .” Why would God send you back to a place you left behind? Because this time, you’re not going back the same. You’re...

THE LINE AND THE LAKE: WHEN OBEDIENCE MEETS UNLIKELY PROVISION PART 2: SONS ARE FREE — BUT WE STILL PAY Matthew 17:25–26 He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.” (NKJV)   Recap (Part 1): The temple tax collectors questioned Peter about Jesus’ financial responsibility. Pressure came knocking—before provision arrived. Peter said “ yes ,” unsure of how the need would be met. 🔍 Focus: Identity First, Provision Later Before Jesus meets the need, He addresses something deeper—Peter’s identity. Jesus doesn't ask Peter why he answered or whether they have money. Instead, He brings up a royal analogy: “ Do kings tax their own children? Or do they tax outsiders?” Peter answers, “ From strangers .” Then Jesus makes a powerful statement: “ Then the s...

THE LINE AND LAKE: WHEN OBEDIENCE MEETS UNLIKELY PROVISION PART 1: WHEN SYSTEMS KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR Matthew 17:24  “When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, ‘Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?’” (NKJV) 🔍 Focus: When Systems Demand What You Don’t Have The story doesn’t begin with a miracle—it begins with a question and a demand. Jesus and the disciples arrive in Capernaum, and the first thing that meets them is not a crowd or celebration, but a financial expectation. The tax collectors want to know whether Jesus is compliant with the religious system. This question didn’t come at a convenient time. There’s no record that Jesus or the disciples had the money ready. Yet the demand was real, and Peter—maybe unsure, maybe under pressure—says, “ Yes .” This scene reflects our lives so clearly: You’re following Jesus. You’re obeying God’s will. But life still knocks—with bills, expectations, deadlines, and responsibilities. Like Pet...

WHEN HEAVEN DOWNLOADS POWER: REFILLING VS INFILLING. PART 10: FINAL LAP — STAYING CHARGED UNTIL THE END: RUNNING WITH POWER TO THE FINISH Acts 6:1-10 RECAP OF PART 9 In Part 9 , we discovered how grace becomes the inverter that powers us when we fall. Whether it's sin, fatigue, or spiritual dryness, grace finds us on the battlefield—wounded, discouraged, or drifting—and pulls us up. Like the prodigal son, Peter, or even the weary prophet Elijah, we’re reminded that falling is not the end when grace is still working. Every runner knows the final lap is not about speed—it’s about stamina. The difference between a champion and a dropout isn’t how fast they started but whether they finished well. Spiritually, the final lap is that stretch of life where distractions multiply, weariness sets in, and the temptation to quit intensifies. But here’s the truth: you were never meant to finish by your own strength. This series started with the idea of spiritual power flowing into the believer l...