Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

Daily Courage - Dec. 26, 2009

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


But while Joseph was there in the prison the Lord was with him. (Genesis 39:20-21)

Gustavo Figueroa

If ever there was a man who could have doubted God's plans for his life, it was Joseph. Sold by his brothers, thrown into prison, in a foreign land; surely a man without future. In spite of it all, this young man remained faithful to God. He stood firm in times of temptation, and paid the price for it, imprisonment.

Humanly speaking he should have been rewarded by God for his faithfulness. It seems so difficult to understand God's ways. For us, who know the end of the story, it is easy to understand. But Joseph did not know the final outcome. The only thing he experienced was sorrow, pain and punishment.

But Joseph changed his prison into a place of worship. "But while Joseph was in prison, the Lord was with him."

It is very possible that you too have experienced times of seeming defeat, loneliness, lack of support. You have concluded that nobody cares about your situation. But remember: The God who was with Joseph is with you today, whatever the circumstances.

Gustavo Figueroa from Cuba. An itinerant evangelist, he writes using a pseudonym.
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[Judy Harder]

Sunday, December 27, 2009   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. (1 Kings 19:4)

Gustavo Figueroa

From the mountain of victory, to the mountain of despair. That was the experience of Elijah and often our experience as well.

"Elijah was a man just like us" (James 5:17). He had just witnessed God's power at Mount Carmel. Fire had come down from heaven in a miraculous way. Instead of repenting before God, Jezebel was furious. "May the gods deal with me ... if by this time tomorrow I do not make your (Elijah's) life like that of one of them" (the priests who died). Elijah did not fear the threats of 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah, but he feared the threat of one woman.

He was so downcast that he wanted to die. At least, that is what he said. But did he really want to die? If so, all he had to do was show himself to Jezebel. She would have loved to accommodate him.

"Elijah was a man just like us," knowing the joy of victory and experiencing the pain of defeat. But the Lord had more work for him to do. "Go back the way you came."

No time to complain. Let's get up and do what God expects us to do.

Gustavo Figueroa from Cuba. An itinerant evangelist, he writes using a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

In this beautiful psalm David thanks God for deliverance from his enemies, especially King Saul. This mighty God has always helped in the past. David trusts in Him, also for the future.

David

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.
(Psalm 18:1-6)  

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, December 29, 2009   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,

"Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39)

Remarkable Remarks - Attitude of Christians Under Pressure

Romanian pastor:

"Christians are like nails; the harder you hit them, the deeper they go."

Nijole Sudanaite a Russian Christian under pressure, when asked whether she would like to emigrate:

"Absolutely not.  My commission is to stay here and take care of God's people who are in great need."

Young Chinese lady preacher who when asked if she might get into trouble for her preaching:

"It is the way of the cross."

Wong Ming Dao - China:

"We are soldiers under the banner of Jesus Christ in a spiritual battle. We can only advance and never retreat."

Galina - Siberia:

"All my suffering is worthwhile, even if I were to reach only one person for Christ."

Proverb:

"Crosses are ladders that lead to heaven."  

[Judy Harder]

Wednesday, December 30, 2009   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,

...The Lord said to Joshua ... Moses' assistant. (Joshua 1:1)

After these things, Joshua, son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died... (Joshua 24:29)

Joshua

The book of Joshua starts with "Joshua, the servant of Moses."  It ends with "Joshua, the servant of God." Joshua was willing to be a servant of men. That qualified him to become a special servant of the Lord.

Servanthood was a very special aspect of Joshua's life. Many Christians are willing to serve God, but not each other. The disciples disputed who was the greatest among them. Christ looked right through their carnal problem. Whoever is willing to be the smallest among you will be honored by God. That can be said of Joshua. It took a long period of preparation. Servanthood of men has a price tag attached to it. If we are not willing to pay that price, we can never become a real servant of God.

The secret of Joshua's success can be found in Exodus 33:11.  "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent." Joshua delighted to be in the presence of God. His walk with God in secret (revealed by his willingness to serve Moses!) prepared Joshua for his very special leadership. Raised as a slave, trained as a servant, developed into a leader; Joshua, the servant of God.

Are you willing to go that same path?

[Judy Harder]

December 31, 2009   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."
(Exodus 17:8-9)

As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.  (Exodus 17:11-13)

Joshua

In this chapter, Joshua is mentioned for the first time in the Bible: a young  man, appointed Commander-in-Chief in a war between Israel and Amalek.

Joshua was one of the youngest generals ever to serve in the Israelite army.  General Douglas McArthur listed Joshua among the greatest generals of world history. President Theodore Roosevelt's favorite book in the Bible was the book of Joshua.

Already in this first encounter with Joshua, we see a spiritual principle in the Kingdom of God: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit. "Hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord." (Exodus 17:15)

That does not eliminate human responsibility. Joshua still had to battle against the enemy in the valley. But the secret of the victory must be found in the spiritual battle that was fought. Hands uplifted to God. "My help comes from the Lord." (Psalm 121)

Work as if everything depends on you. Pray as if everything depends on God.

Ora et Labora - Pray and work.

[Judy Harder]

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

Joshua

"Be strong and courageous." Four times these words are repeated in the first chapter of Joshua. That can only mean one thing, Joshua was afraid. He needed the encouragement. But when you think about it, how strange, if anybody could be expected to show courage, it would have been Joshua. After all, he was the youngest general in the Israelite army, which says it all. He and Caleb were the only spies who came back with a positive report after their expedition to the Promised Land. While the other ten spies were full of fear, Joshua and Caleb were full of faith and courage.

But now fear seems to have caught up with Joshua. Yet it is not fear of man that bothers him. Neither is it fear of danger, or fear to enter into battle. Joshua is frightened by the enormous spiritual responsibility which rests upon his shoulders, to take the people of Israel to the Promised Land is not a small thing. This responsibility intimidates Joshua. Such a task frightens him. That is why the Lord encourages him over and over again by telling him, "The Lord your God will be with you!"

Then no wall proves to be too high and no giant too strong.

Are there similar walls and giants in your life? Do you feel small and weak like Joshua did? Today the Lord is saying to you, "be strong and courageous, for I, the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Copyright [C] 1995 Open Doors International. Used by permission

[Judy Harder]

January 2, 2010   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


"...are you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither", he replied. ... Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence and asked him: "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"   (Joshua 5:13,14)

Joshua

Shortly before the first big confrontation with Jericho, Joshua had a very strange encounter himself.

He had only just been called to be the leader of his people, and now he has been asked to surrender his leadership to the commander of the army of the Lord.

Joshua's spiritual maturity is proven by the fact that he would rather be second-in-command in God's army, than first-in-command of his own.

When asked if the man was for or against the Israelites, his only reply was, "neither." What the messenger of the Lord was really saying was "I have not come to take sides. I have come to take over."

Whoever is willing to surrender the leadership to God will experience that no wall is too high for God, no river too deep, no problem too great.

Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? 

Got any mountains you can't tunnel through?

God specializes in things thought impossible; He does the things others cannot do.

[Judy Harder]

January 3, 2010

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.  (Hebrews 11:30)

Joshua

After Joshua's voluntary surrender of his leadership to the commander of the army of the Lord, some more strange orders followed. "March around the city." "Make seven priests carry trumpets in front of the Ark." "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout."

Very unusual military commands. An army does not show itself to the enemy. You don't ask the chaplains to walk in the front lines, waving their Bibles.

It seemed so illogical, unprofessional, and unmilitary. God's way of doing things often seems unreasonable.

Joshua had to learn that this was not going to be his war, done in his way, but God's war, done in God's way. He responded with an unquestioning obedience.

Faith expressed in obedience to God's Word is always the key to victory. And victory came because Joshua and his people fully trusted God.

When you face a "Jericho" in your life, you too may see the walls tumble down as you trust in God and in His way of handling a crisis situation.

[Judy Harder]

Monday, January 4, 2010 

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


Then choose for yourself this day whom you will serve ... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
(Joshua 24:15)

Now then, throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.
(Joshua 24:23)

Joshua

Once again Joshua addressed the nation. He reminded them of God's faithfulness and deliverance. Through his farewell message he stressed the grace of God. "I gave," "I brought," "I destroyed," "I delivered." Not once did he mention his own achievements because, simply, he acknowledged God's hand in it all. He challenged the people to follow that God. He himself set the example; "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." He practiced what he preached. His mind was made up, his course was clear: we will serve the Lord.

The people responded. "We too will serve the Lord." It was then that Joshua challenged them to prove their sincerity by their works. "Throw away your idols." We can only serve God fully if we throw our idols away!  Idols of any kind, any idol blocks the way to full communication with God. A price needs to be paid. A reward is waiting: To walk with God - to the land of promise.
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