Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus. (Daniel 1:21)

Daniel

"The One enthroned in heaven laughs," says the poet of Psalm 2. God could also have laughed when Daniel 1:21 was written: "Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus"... 76 years later. Everything was aimed at changing the young Israelites into "real" Babylonians so that Israel as a nation would disappear. So that (and that was Satan's final goal) a Messiah could never come out of Israel. Therefore the brainwashing was an attempt to make them forget God.

In consequence Daniel must also disappear. That was Satan's plan. But according to God's plan Daniel must remain, as a man of God, as a proof of God's faithfulness, and as a hope for the future. And Daniel did stay. He came to Babylon as a young man of 14 and stayed till Cyrus became king, 76 years later.

Kings came and went - but Daniel remained. World empires rose and fell - but Daniel remained. That is history and Christian history at the same time. Satan cannot destroy Israel as a nation and neither can he destroy the Church of Jesus Christ. He can close churches; he can imprison pastors; burn Bibles and replace them with atheistic literature ... but the "Daniels" will stay.

For Jesus has promised that He will build His Church and the "gates of hell will not prevail against it."

Till Cyrus came ... the deliverance.

Till Christ came ... the Redeemer.

Therefore we can laugh, even through our tears.

[Judy Harder]

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

(Daniel 3:17-18)

Daniel

In this chapter Satan follows another tactic to draw the Jews away from God. A clever tactic which he had already applied frequently with success - that of compromise.

What kind of compromise?

To believe in God but also to worship other gods. In the morning pray to God and in the afternoon kneel before idols. By allowing such a compromise you can maintain your social and financial standing. That is what the majority of Jews thought anyway.

Only three refused.

They knew that any form of compromise was nothing less than a denial of their faith in the one, true God. The other Jews concluded that one must give and take in life, that it would be foolish and too spiritual to risk a good career and position. In addition, through compromise, much could be attained. Their point of view was that you must know how to separate work from religion.

For the three friends of Daniel every form of compromise meant giving in to Satan himself. Therefore they refused, although they knew that by doing so they risked death in the fiery furnace. They would rather die for God, than live with the devil.

The tactic of compromise is always wielded by Satan, in the Suffering Church as well as in our prosperous society.

Will you kneel or stand?

'Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand' (Ephesians 6:13).

[Judy Harder]

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us but to your name give glory.
(Psalm 115:1)

Hristo Kulichev

Sometimes we get selfish in our faith. We want God to arrange our life in such a way that we will be able to live happily and comfortably. We are always thinking of our own comfort and that God is obliged to provide for it. We want Him to supply our needs (and we have plenty of them!) in such a way that we will experience pleasure in life.

But God doesn't act that way. When Joseph was in prison he wanted to get out of that place as soon as possible. But God did not answer his prayer right away. He delayed his answer in order to give glory to His own name (Genesis 41:28). Martha and Mary wanted Jesus to come quickly and heal their brother Lazarus, but Jesus did not come right away. Was He not aware of their need and prayer request? Oh yes He was - but He waited in order to glorify God's name (John 11). As long as we want things for our own pleasure - He will wait and not answer our prayers. God wants to glorify His name.

'You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.'

Are our motives right? Are our priorities right? That teaches us to pray:

'Father, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done.'

Such a prayer will always be answered. To His glory - and that gives us the greatest pleasure.

Hristo Kulichev is from Bulgaria. He was imprisoned and exiled for almost four years for his faith in Jesus Christ. He now has a leading function in the Bulgarian Church and is also editor of the Evangelical newspaper Zornitza (Morning Star).

[Judy Harder]

Your will be done.
(Matthew 26:42)

Hristo Kulichev

There are many believers who put their desires before God's will. They expect that God will satisfy their whims and wishes. God did it for Hezekiah, didn't He?

God's will for Hezekiah was, 'Put your house in order.' Instead of obeying God's will, Hezekiah pleaded with God to let him live a bit longer. God answered his prayer and added fifteen more years to his life because Hezekiah had followed the Lord with his whole heart. But the extra fifteen years were not a blessing. Not for Hezekiah, nor for his family or his nation. It was during those extra years that Hezekiah made a terrible mistake (2 Kings 20:12) showing all his possessions and riches to visitors from Babylon. God was not honored. Hezekiah was exalted - not God.

Let us be sons and daughters of the living God whose pleasure it is to do the will of the Father instead of God having to please us.

The greatest blessing for us is not when God satisfies all our desires, but when we obey His will. Then we will find real joy and full pleasure in our complete obedience to God.

Hristo Kulichev is from Bulgaria. He was imprisoned and exiled for almost four years for his faith in Jesus Christ. He now has a leading function in the Bulgarian Church and is also editor of the Evangelical newspaper Zornitza (Morning Star).

[Judy Harder]

Man shall not live by bread alone...
(Matthew 4:4)

Hristo Kulichev

God teaches us to pray for our daily bread - but He doesn't say that we have to think only about our daily bread. The struggle for bread is called 'struggle for life'. People are willing to make all kinds of compromises in order to receive bread. When I was put in prison there was hardly any food. When they gave us the prisoner's uniforms, one boy complained that his trousers were too tight. The supervisor said: 'Don't worry, very soon they will become loose.'

I knew what would follow. Every day I prayed, 'Lord, you fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fishes. Only a little crumb is enough for me Lord, please give it to me.' I then realized that God can meet our needs in two ways.

1         He can give us what we need; or

2         He can set us free from what we consider a need.

God did not give me more bread. But he set me free from the feeling of hunger. I always felt satisfied. I never felt hungry - and bread and salt turned out to be a delicious meal for me.

When we trust the word which proceeds from the mouth of God we will never suffer want.

[Judy Harder]

Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.
(Matthew 10:37)

Hristo Kulichev

Many times I was summoned by the police because they didn't allow me to preach the Gospel. When I was arrested the public prosecutor tried every possible way to exert influence on me. Satan used this man to tempt me in many different ways. The man offered me a better job. When I refused to accept it he began to remind me of the difficulties I would have to face in prison. When he realized that I was ready to suffer for God he said, "You seem to be willing to suffer for your faith, but do you realize it will have many consequences for your children also? Your imprisonment will affect all your family and they will suffer because of you. Your daughter won't be allowed to graduate from Sofia University, and your son will not be allowed to finish at the Technical College. And you will be the only reason for that. You will destroy their future." I know parents in my church who ceased coming to church for fear that they might hinder their children's career. I did not blame them. Fear is the strongest tool of Satan to tempt us. Fear for ourselves, fear for our loved ones. Fear, which we hid under the cover of love and care.

I turned to the prosecutor and said, "If I love my family more than God I am not worthy of Him. I am ready to sacrifice anything for my Savior and so disarm Satan."

When we love God with our whole heart, soul and mind, Satan will not be able to enter into our lives. God will enter and take care. He did. My children finished their education and both are now serving the Lord. God does not always take what we sacrifice, but He wants us to be ready to sacrifice everything for Him.

That gives complete and lasting victory.

[Judy Harder]

David is on the run from Saul again. He is hiding in caves, in the desert of Ziph. But the Ziphites betray him. They tell Saul where David is hiding.

'Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands' (1 Samuel 23:14).

'And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him to find strength in God' (1 Samuel 23:16).

David

Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might.
Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.
Strangers are attacking me; ruthless men seek my life - men without regard for God.
Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Let evil recoil on those who slander me; in your faithfulness destroy them.
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.
For he has delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.
(Psalm 54)

[Judy Harder]

In humility consider others better than yourselves.
(Philippians 2:3)

Nicolae Gheorghita

On 17 January 1982, two laymen were ordained for the ministry without former theological training: Paul Negrut, a psychologist and Nick Gheorghita, an endocrinologist. They were to serve in one of the largest Baptist churches in Europe. I, Nick, was one of the two. On the way home from church, I suddenly heard the voice of the Holy Spirit, saying: 'He must increase, you must decrease.' And although I know that these words were spoken by John the Baptist in relationship to Jesus Christ - I also knew in my heart that it touched on the relationship between me and my newly ordained co-partner. I therefore asked Paul to stop the car and told him what the Lord has just showed me: I must be Paul's helper. There is no greater joy in my life than to see God leading Paul to victory in the valley, while I am interceding on the mountain on his behalf. I am committed to support him in what he does for the Lord.

Humanly speaking people want to be first - not second. They want to be served - not to serve. But if we allow God, through His Spirit, to control our lives we can all play our part - as leader or servants so that Christ's body will be built and His name glorified. Should that not be the goal of us all? What part does God want you to play?

Nicolae Gheorghita is from Romania. He became well-known as one of pastors of the largest Baptist Churches in Europe. Despite his status, his messages are characterized by their simplicity and servitude.

[Judy Harder]

But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it.
(Matthew 10:19)

Nicolae Gheorghita

After various trials, I was once asked to go to the secretary of the county, an evil man, a committed Communist. My wife said, "It will be a miracle of God if you come back safe." The 'comrade' party official made me wait for an hour in the hallway for him, after which I was told he wanted to see me now. I prayed (again); "Lord please go in first. I am afraid to go without you."

The official was sitting behind his desk. "I could have sent you to prison for what you have done, but I wanted to see you first," he started. "You were in Cluj and you preached without permission." I realized immediately what he was referring to. I had indeed preached to the students of the university in Cluj. I had encouraged them to remain faithful in the week ahead. I had spoken about courage because they had been threatened with dismissal from the university if they continued to believe in God. I told the party official that it was my duty to preach the Word. He started to threaten me. Strange, the more he threatened me the more God's peace flowed into my heart. I was sitting there, full of peace, rejoicing in the opportunity to be threatened for my faith in Christ.

Suddenly, the official realized that he could not frighten me. "Are you not afraid?" he asked. I just said, "No". Then he added, "Do you have anything else to say?" I said, "Yes"... and I told him my testimony and that God loved him too. I saw him lowering himself behind the desk and he asked me to pray for his soul also. How great Thou art.

Nicolae Gheorghita is from Romania. He became well-known as one of pastors of the largest Baptist Churches in Europe. Despite his status, his messages are characterized by their simplicity and servitude.

[Judy Harder]

'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 'I will not' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
(Matthew 21:28-29)

Nicolae Gheorghita

When asked to do something we do not like, our first reaction is often negative. In 1981 I went to visit a church that had just lost its pastor. Joseph Ton was "asked" to leave the church by the government. I had to preach in that church that same evening. I saw sadness and confusion and many empty seats ... because of fear. I started by asking a question. "Has Joseph Ton left?" They answered, "Yes." Then I asked another question, "Has the God of this congregation left along with Joseph?" My question fell like thunder. They all answered, "No." "Then let us give Him glory," I continued.

A week later, the church committee called me on the telephone to make an appointment with me to meet with them. I realized straight away that they wanted to ask me to become their pastor. I told them that I was not interested and that I could tell them "No" over the phone. "But we still want to visit you." Of course I could not refuse that request.

The church was fasting and praying for our meeting. The members of the committee came and we talked for a long time. All of a sudden I heard myself say "yes" to their request to become their pastor. When I realized it was not me saying yes - it was from God, peace filled my heart. "Father, not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).

"Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth" (Psalm 86).

"Here I am ... I desire to do your will, oh my God" (Psalm 40:.