Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

May 30, 2011     

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


David notices that the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. Yet he concludes that the little that the righteous have is better than the wealth of many wicked (Psalm 37:16). For the power and the riches of the wicked will vanish, but the righteous will live for ever and ever. The choice is not hard to make.

"Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to possess the land" (Psalm 37:34).

David

The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.
The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;
for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.
The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever.
In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
(Psalm 37:12-19)

[Judy Harder]

For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. (Psalm 86:10)

Andrés Noriega

Though we often felt out of touch with the Body of Christ elsewhere, we have seen and enjoyed God's hand of provision. He is in touch with His people worldwide and causes those who are free to help those who are persecuted.

The following incident explains this so beautifully. I had received an invitation to attend a Christian congress in another country. Due to the fact that Cuban authorities had always refused to give permission to go, we prayed very earnestly for government clearance. While making arrangements to go I had a long list of all the things I wanted to buy in the free world, that I could bring back to Cuba. The three most urgent items were Bibles, two tambourines for our worship group and four microphones for the church.

Then came the news - I was not allowed to go. What a disappointment and discouragement. But God was in control.

Three days later a young man came to my house. He came from the country where the Christian congress was taking place. He was on a business trip to Cuba and had only arrived a day ago.

"I have some gifts for you Pastor," he told me. He did not know me, and I did not know him so I was surprised. "A few days ago," the brother told me, "I heard about my business trip to Cuba so I quickly went to a shop to buy some things for the trip. Another customer in the shop overheard me talking about my forthcoming visit to Cuba. He came to me and said, 'I know a pastor in Cuba who has great needs in his church. Would you please visit him and give him some gifts?'

"You are that pastor sir ... and here are the gifts." I was overwhelmed. Many, many gifts and among them ... Bibles, tambourines and four microphones...

God knows our situation. He knows your problems too. He listens to our prayers and provides. Maybe in a different way than we expected, but in a wonderful way which gives glory to God. How great thou art."

Andrés Noriega, from Cuba, shares about his life with the Lord. Despite the battle, his meditations witness to victory and faith. He writes under a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

June 01, 2011     

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures for ever ... do not abandon the works of your hands.  (Psalm 138:

Andrés Noriega

I was at the point of entering university to study Philosophy. It was like a dream come true. I would finally be able to escape from my parents and their situation. My father was a pastor. I had lived with shortages and limitations. The last thing I ever wanted was to become a pastor. Because to me it stood for poverty, humiliation, danger and suffering. I had seen it and had lived through it. This was the time to get away from it. Go to university, learn, get a good job, become somebody. What I had forgotten ... God had not.

My mother could not have children for various reasons. Then, through a miracle, she got pregnant. She was overwhelmed with joy. When I was still in my mother's womb, promises came from different sources that the fruit of her womb was to become a servant of God. But here I was ... entering university. I had forgotten all about the promises to my mother. In fact, instead of following the Lord at all, l lived my own life, the life of the world, with plenty of fun and pleasure. I knew I lived in sin, but I still enjoyed it much more than living the dull life of a Christian.

But just before I entered the university something happened. It was as if a film was played, showing my life story. My whole life passed before me.... and the Lord touched my heart. I saw my stubbornness and His love, my insignificant self and His majesty. I cried and confessed my sins. Everything lost its value; nothing became more important than to receive forgiveness. I renounced all and dedicated my life to His service.

Today I am a pastor, joyful and happy and with this great conviction - The little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of the wicked.

Andrés Noriega, from Cuba, shares about his life with the Lord. Despite the battle, his meditations witness to victory and faith. He writes under a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

June 02, 2011     
 
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character and character hope, and hope does not disappoint us. (Romans 5:3-5)

Andrés Noriega

Many of us believe that our faith will grow best in favorable conditions, without any resistance, without any hardships or without being put to the test. But it is not like that. Fellow Christians in my country have often said that they would be better believers, more devoted and more faithful if they could live in a country where there is freedom of religion. They make a big mistake. Our thinking is wrong when we believe that our faith would grow if the circumstances were easier. Faith, like a muscle, grows as it is exercised. The inactivity, the calm, the lack of struggle can be more dangerous to our faith than the presence of persecution. It awakens in us the sense and reality of who we really are; it helps us, or should I say it forces us to depend on God.

A church without any struggle, hardship or persecution can easily fall asleep, become inactive and then lose the victory, because in order to gain a victory you need a battle.

True faith does not need favorable conditions of peace and prosperity. True faith needs favorable (yes favorable) conditions of persecution and trials. That is Paul's message in Romans 5 that is also his experience. And by the grace of God mine too. Therefore, rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:13).

Andrés Noriega, from Cuba, shares about his life with the Lord. Despite the battle, his meditations witness to victory and faith. He writes under a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

June 03, 2011     

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.  (Psalm 42:11)

Andrés Noriega

My wife and I were very confused when our third child was born - a baby without a hope of staying alive. Each day he lived was an agony.

We felt our world had been turned upside down. We were confused, upset and full of questions. The more so because I experienced a great revival in my church. People were saved, delivered from all kinds of addictions, healed from various kinds of diseases. The people in my church were glorifying God. So did I... until our child was born. "Why Lord? Why?" we cried.

The next eighteen days were like one long nightmare. We cried, we prayed, we fainted, we argued with God until we were left without strength. It was then that we realized that we were selfish, proud and stubborn. I thought I heard the voice of the mockers saying, "Doctor, heal yourself." So I said, "Lord, your will be done. If you decide to take my child it will not change my obedience to you." That very day a miracle happened ... the peace of God entered our hearts. We had won the battle.

PS : Late that night our child came back to life and has been healthy ever since. What a bonus.

What a secret. Put your hope in God and surrender to His love and sovereignty - even when "the miracle" does not take place.

Andrés Noriega, from Cuba, shares about his life with the Lord. Despite the battle, his meditations witness to victory and faith. He writes under a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

June 04, 2011     

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

Andrés Noriega

Denying ourselves is a voluntary and conscientious act. We make a definite decision which is equivalent to a complete and absolute surrender to our God. In doing so, we accept His plan for our lives and hand over the control to Him. He can make changes in accordance with His plan and purpose for our lives. To deny oneself and follow Jesus does not signify losing or winning. It does not nullify oneself but rather opens the way to be raised to the most noble standard of God's plan for our lives. To follow Jesus has consequences. To take up a cross involves struggle. "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you," Jesus said. (John 15:24)  It means identification with Him who was crucified. But there is also another truth involved. "Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you will be overjoyed when His glory is revealed."

The ultimate consequence of following the Lord is not death by crucifixion, but life eternal through resurrection.

"I am the resurrection and the life ... and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." (John 22:25)

Andrés Noriega, from Cuba, shares about his life with the Lord. Despite the battle, his meditations witness to victory and faith. He writes under a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

 June 05, 2011     
 
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

Andrés Noriega

Denying ourselves is a voluntary and conscientious act. We make a definite decision which is equivalent to a complete and absolute surrender to our God. In doing so, we accept His plan for our lives and hand over the control to Him. He can make changes in accordance with His plan and purpose for our lives. To deny oneself and follow Jesus does not signify losing or winning. It does not nullify oneself but rather opens the way to be raised to the most noble standard of God's plan for our lives. To follow Jesus has consequences. To take up a cross involves struggle. "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you," Jesus said. (John 15:24)  It means identification with Him who was crucified. But there is also another truth involved. "Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you will be overjoyed when His glory is revealed."

The ultimate consequence of following the Lord is not death by crucifixion, but life eternal through resurrection.

"I am the resurrection and the life ... and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." (John 22:25)

Andrés Noriega, from Cuba, shares about his life with the Lord. Despite the battle, his meditations witness to victory and faith. He writes under a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

June 06, 2011     

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


...Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.

(Hebrews 12:1-2)

Gustavo Figueroa

We know the loneliness which the great missionary David Livingstone experienced while serving the Lord in Africa. We also remember how Martin Luther spent his time in loneliness in a fortress, where he used this time to translate the Bible into the German language. No room for bitterness. "Lord, deliver me from this place so I can serve you better."  No, he served the Lord right where he was, despite the limitations.

And what about John Bunyan, confined to a prison for 10 years where he wrote his famous book, The Pilgrim's Progress?

Yes, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. From the Bible and from church history. People who lived by faith, not by sight.

At the same time we realize that sometimes we can live by sight and not recognize God's presence. We feel like the two men on the road to Emmaus, who thought they were walking "alone", while Jesus walked with them.

"...Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

(Luke 24:32).

There are numerous examples from the Scriptures and from history which tell us that a Christian will never walk the road of faith alone. Whatever the circumstances may be, even if our feelings or perception dictate the contrary, the Lord will be with us, in us and for us. Hallelujah!

Gustavo Figueroa, from Cuba, shares about his life with the Lord. Despite the battle, his meditations witness to victory and faith. He writes under a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

Be careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

Antonio Garrido

One day a brother came to our home to learn how we reproduced cassette tapes from Bible studies. We not only told him how we did it, but also shared with him what a blessing this ministry had been to other Christians and non-Christians.

It had resulted in great encouragement for the Christians while many unbelievers accepted the Lord as well. While we shared these blessings, our brother started to weep.

He then told us, "I am so embarrassed. I received some equipment a year ago to do a similar job, but I have not used it at all yet. Now that I see how you use your old equipment, and what the results have been, I feel so guilty for not using God's provision. It could have saved so many people; it could have encouraged so many fellow believers; why did I not use God's gift?"

I sat down next to him and said, "You feel guilty - and maybe you are - but don't stop there. Make a fresh start and use what God has given to you."

Yes, we must take advantage of the time and gifts we have. Do not leave for tomorrow the things you can do today. "Make the most of the time."

[Judy Harder]

The subject of this Psalm, like in many other Psalms of David, is trusting the Lord when life is difficult.

Every time David's life is in danger, he trusts in his God, always thanking the Lord for His help in the past. That encourages him to also trust God for the present. Is He not the same, yesterday and today?

David

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The Lord be exalted!"
Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.
(Psalm 40:1-3,16-17)