THE HERALDS DEVOTIONAL

🌍 KINGDOM COLONIZATION: EXPANDING HEAVEN’S RULE ON EARTH  PART 1 — THE BIRTH OF A KINGDOM CITIZEN Matthew 6:9–13, John 3:1–17 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.bThy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.... There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God...Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God... That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit... When Jesus came to earth, He did not introduce a religion; He introduced a kingdom. His mission was not just to save individuals but to establish God’s rule in the hearts of people and, through them, transform the world. In these foundational scriptures, Jesus reveals the blueprint for what ...

🌿 THE MIST BEFORE THE RAIN: UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PROCESS FOR FRUITFULNESS PART 17 (FINAL LAP) — THE RAIN AFTER THE MIST: FROM EDEN TO CALVARY 📖 Genesis 2:6 / John 19:30 “But a mist came up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.” “When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished.’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” From Mist to Mercy It began with a mist — gentle, hidden, preparing the ground. It ended with rain — loud, redemptive, washing the earth. Between the mist and the rain lies the whole story of God and man. Eden was the beginning of intimacy; Calvary was the restoration of it. The same God who knelt to form man from dust stretched out His arms to redeem him from death. The mist was formation. The rain was fulfillment. The ground that once drank water now drank blood — and life began again. 1. From Ground to Glory — The Divine Continuity The story never broke; it only bent. What began in the soil found its seal in the Spirit. In Genesi...

🌿 THE MIST BEFORE THE RAIN: UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PROCESS FOR FRUITFULNESS PART 16 — EAST OF EDEN: GRACE BEYOND THE GATE 📖 Genesis 3:22–24 “ So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After He drove the man out, He placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” When Grace Guards the Gate To the untrained eye, Eden’s gate looked closed. But to the eyes of grace, it was guarded — not by wrath, but by mercy. God didn’t banish Adam to destroy him; He removed him so redemption could begin. The flaming sword wasn’t meant to keep man away forever — it was to preserve the way until grace could reopen it through the Cross. Sometimes what looks like banishment is actually protection. What feels like the end may be God’s way of beginning something beyond your understanding. 1. The East of Eden — The Place Beyond Comfort The east side of Eden wasn’t ...

🌿 THE MIST BEFORE THE RAIN: UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PROCESS FOR FRUITFULNESS PART 15 — THE COVERING OF GRACE: FROM LEAVES TO LOVE 📖 Genesis 3:21  “ And the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” Before the gate closed, grace clothed. The same hands that formed man from dust now covered him from shame. Adam and Eve had tried to fix their fall with fig leaves — fragile, temporary, self-made. But God, in mercy, exchanged their leaves of guilt for skins of grace. This verse may seem small, but it’s one of the most profound symbols of redemption in the entire Bible. Because before the cross, there was already a covering. 1. From Leaves to Skins — From Self to Savior When man sinned, his first instinct was to sew — to fix it fast. He used what was available, not realizing it could never last. That’s what religion does — it tries to cover shame with effort. But every human-made covering eventually withers. So God stepped in. He replaced man’s attempt to hide...

  🌿 THE MIST BEFORE THE RAIN: UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PROCESS FOR FRUITFULNESS PART 14 — THE HIDING HEART: WHEN SHAME SILENCES FELLOWSHIP 📖 Genesis 3:8–10   “ And the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He answered, ‘I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’” Before redemption, there was a rustle — the sound of man hiding among what he was meant to steward. The same trees Adam was called to tend became the trees he used to hide. That’s the irony of sin — it makes us use God’s gifts to escape His gaze. Eden’s silence wasn’t because God stopped calling; it was because man stopped answering. The fellowship that once filled the cool of the day was now replaced by fear, shame, and self-consciousness. The tragedy of the fall wasn’t just that man disobeyed — it’s that man withdrew. 1. The Shift from Presence to Hiding When sin entered,...

🌿 THE MIST BEFORE THE RAIN: UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PROCESS FOR FRUITFULNESS PART 13 — THE FELLOWSHIP FACTOR: WHEN THE VOICE WALKS 📖 Genesis 2:15–17 & Genesis 3:8   “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it… Then they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” Before the world heard thunder or saw fire on Mount Sinai, there was a Voice that walked. It didn’t shout. It didn’t command from a distance. It walked — in the cool of the day. That’s the essence of Eden: fellowship, not formality. Man wasn’t created just to exist in God’s presence but to enjoy it — to walk, talk, and work alongside Him. Eden wasn’t only a place of work or worship; it was a place of walk. The beauty of creation was not in the trees, rivers, or gold, but in this — God walked among men. This verse gives us a glimpse of Eden’s secret: It was sustained not by systems, but by fellowship. The garden stayed green becau...

🌿 THE MIST BEFORE THE RAIN: UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PROCESS FOR FRUITFULNESS PART 12 — BOUNDARIES OF BLESSING: THE TREE, THE CHOICE, AND THE TRUST 📖 Genesis 2:16–17  “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will surely die.’” Every blessing has a boundary. Every garden has a gate. And every promise comes with principles that protect it. God’s instruction to Adam wasn’t a setup for failure — it was a structure for fruitfulness. He gave him freedom, but also framed it with one restriction. Because even in paradise, trust must be tested. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not just about fruit — it was about faithfulness. Would Adam trust the Giver’s wisdom more than his own curiosity? 1. Boundaries Define Trust, Not Limitation Many see God’s “ no ” as limitation, but in truth, it reveals how much He trusts you. He trusted Ad...

🌿 THE MIST BEFORE THE RAIN: UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PROCESS FOR FRUITFULNESS PART 11 — THE VOICE AND THE CHOICE: NAVIGATING INSTRUCTIONS IN EDEN 📖 Genesis 2:16–17  “ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will surely die.’” Before the fall, there was already a voice — and a choice. Eden was not just a place of beauty; it was a classroom of obedience. In the center of the garden, God didn’t only plant trees — He planted truth. The same voice that formed Adam now instructed him. Creation began with “ God said ,” and communion continued with “ God commanded.” The voice that creates also directs — and the moment we stop listening, creation begins to unravel. 1. Divine Voice: The Compass of the Garden Eden’s perfection didn’t make Adam independent — it made him dependent. Even in paradise, he needed instruction. Why? Because abundance wi...

🌧 THE MIST BEFORE THE RAIN: UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PROCESS FOR FRUITFULNESS PART 10 — THE WORK AND THE WATCH: GUARDING WHAT GOD ENTRUSTS TO YOU 📖 Genesis 2:15 (NIV) “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Every blessing requires balance — and in Eden, God gave Adam both a place and a purpose. The garden wasn’t just for enjoyment; it was for engagement. This verse reveals a powerful truth: God’s placement is never passive. Wherever He positions you, He expects productivity and protection. He didn’t just give Adam a garden to admire; He gave him an assignment to maintain. It’s one thing to receive what God gives — it’s another to sustain it. Lessons from The Work and the Watch 1. Divine Placement Comes with Divine Responsibility God put Adam in the garden — not as a tourist but as a tender. Every divine opportunity comes wrapped in responsibility. The garden represents your calling, family, ministry, or career. It will only flourish if...

🌧 THE MIST BEFORE THE RAIN: UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PROCESS FOR FRUITFULNESS PART 9 — THE RIVERS OF PROVISION: FLOWING FROM WITHIN THE GARDEN   Genesis 2:10    “A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.” When God plants a man, He doesn’t leave him to struggle. He plants him where provision flows naturally from His presence. The river that watered Eden wasn’t imported — it flowed from within. This is a picture of divine sustainability. True provision isn’t what we chase; it’s what flows from where God has placed us. The river represents God’s unending supply — spiritual, emotional, physical, and creative — all streaming out from His presence at the center. Lessons from the Rivers of Provision 1. God’s Provision Flows from His Presence, Not from Pressure The river didn’t begin outside Eden — it originated from it. That means provision starts where God is. Many people step out of their “Eden” chasing opportunities, not reali...

🌧️ THE MIST BEFORE THE RAIN: UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PROCESS FOR FRUITFULNESS PART 8 — THE GARDEN OF PLACEMENT : WHERE PURPOSE MEETS PROVISION 📖 Genesis 2:8 (NIV) “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.” After God formed man and filled him with His breath, He didn’t leave him wandering — He placed him. The garden was not man’s idea; it was God’s prepared environment for man’s assignment. This is one of the most profound principles in God’s process: Divine placement follows divine formation. God doesn’t anoint you and abandon you; He assigns you to a space that fits your spiritual structure. Where God plants you is as important as what He puts in you.   Lessons from the Garden of Placement 1. God Prepares the Place Before He Places the Person The garden was already planted before man arrived. That means God prepares your environment before introducing you to it. The job, the relationship, the ministry, or the season you’re s...