Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.
(Luke 12:11-12)

Sister Chen

Some years ago Brother Yuen was arrested. He was put in prison and then brought to the town square to be questioned openly. All believers were asked to join the accusation. The aim was to scare others by killing him. I was one who was forced to join the accusation.

This is what I saw - Brother Yuen stood in front of the government officials. No sad face, no frustration. Just a peaceful face which smiled. It was as if I saw a life overflowing with peace and love. I saw Yuen very clearly. How in the world could he be so peaceful? I saw a light shine in his eyes that I had never seen there before. O yes, Brother Yuen had always been a faithful Christian. I remembered him as a quiet man, who lived with God without wanting to stand in the limelight. But now ... the light of life was shining from God's throne onto this imprisoned Christian. Then he spoke, as he never had before...

"I love Christ, I spread Christ, I trust in Christ, I follow Christ and I remain faithful to Christ. I am willing to accept what will come to me. I seek nothing else except Him. I hope that more people will come to accept Christ."

We came with sorrow, weakness and pain, yet we went back with comfort, strength and joy. We realized that this was not Brother Yuen, this was God, standing by, holding up, giving words to speak.

That God is ours today, His strength is ours.

Will Yuen's testimony be ours too?

Sister Chen is from China and is a pillar of God's house in this vast land. Due to security reasons, we cannot introduce her further to you, but her testimony speaks for itself. 

[Judy Harder]

July 20, 2011     


Daily Courage
     
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand. (Psalm 121:5)

Sister Chen

Difficulties, as high as mountains, come rushing towards me. Strong waves dash against my heel. When the power of darkness focuses on me to attack my faith, I lift my eyes to the hills and ask the Lord for help. He speaks to me, "My strength is made perfect in the weakness of men." This is always a wonderful paradox. I therefore worship His way, with tears.

The greatest joy in my life is to be under the protection of the Holy Spirit, freely walking in and out between the gap of the lion's teeth. I am in the shelter of the right hand of the Almighty, so that the devil cannot touch me. With His grace I can have victory over strong winds and high waves, defeating the attacking enemy.

The Lord is our shade at our right hand. You see the shade when you walk in the light. When there are clouds you may not be able to see that shade clearly ... but it is still there ... because He watches over our lives. He will watch over our coming and going, both now and forever more.

Sister Chen is from China and is a pillar of God's house in this vast land. Due to security reasons, we cannot introduce her further to you, but her testimony speaks for itself.

[Judy Harder]

 from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord. (Psalm 113:9)

Sister Chen

I remember an old lady, 90 years old, serving the Lord in a very spiritual way. She has been ordained by the Lord to be celibate. To worldly people, she is a barren woman. And yet she is bearing more fruit, spiritual fruit, than everybody else. To this very day, at the age of 90, she lives a life of intercession. She gives birth to many spiritual children. She feeds many spiritual infants with milk, making them grow in the love of Christ.

Is this woman barren? No, she has more spiritual children than any other mother has natural children. The Church in China respects and loves this old, happy mother of many children, very much.

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green" (Psalm 92:12-14).

Sister Chen is from China and is a pillar of God's house in this vast land. Due to security reasons, we cannot introduce her further to you, but her testimony speaks for itself.

 

[Judy Harder]

Daily Courage
     


from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11)

Sister Chen

Are we willing to die for the Lord? That is a difficult question. A question that can be answered however is, are we willing to live for Him?

Sister Suk Wan was such a believer. She lived for the Lord, faithfully and courageously. She was arrested for her faith and thrown into prisons were she was beaten and tortured. She became seriously ill and requested to be brought to the town square to speak to the people. (People were often brought there to be shown to the public in order to deny the faith or to undergo self-criticism trials.) The organizers were convinced she wanted to deny her faith before she would die. Two policemen helped her onto the stage. She could hardly stand. She had bruises all over her face. She gathered her last strength and cried, "To God be the glory. Jesus is my Lord." Then she collapsed and died. She could die for the Lord because she had lived for Him.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Sister Chen is from China and is a pillar of God's house in this vast land. Due to security reasons, we cannot introduce her further to you, but her testimony speaks for itself.

[Judy Harder]

 

Saturday, July 23, 2011     


Daily Courage
     
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life."
(Mark 10:29-30)

Sister Chen

The parents of Sister Suk Wan were already in their eighties when their only daughter died. When the news of her death reached the body of Christ in their town, the Christians were deeply touched and decided to take care of these old people. After some time they said, "We lost our only daughter, but God has given us back so many new spiritual sons and daughters." Their brotherly love for each other touched many unbelievers.

Suffering is never in vain. The blood of martyr Suk Wan became a seed of the Church - growing stronger, in depth and number.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).

Sister Chen is from China and is a pillar of God's house in this vast land. Due to security reasons, we cannot introduce her further to you, but her testimony speaks for itself.

[Judy Harder]

July 24, 2011     

Daily Courage
     
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,

David feels desperate. He is in deadly danger, like somebody who is drowning in a swamp. He can just about keep his head above the water. In this desperate situation he cries out to God. But it seems like God is turning a deaf ear to him. David thinks his end is near. He continues to pray and cry out to God. He is afraid that if he dies, other believers may stumble and lose their faith in the God of David. God's name is at stake.

David

Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal.
I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.
The poor will see and be glad - you who seek God, may your hearts live!
The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.
(Psalm 69:1-4,30-33)

[Judy Harder]

July 25, 2011         


Courage
     
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


Again I tell you, that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in heaven. (Matthew 18:19)

Pastor Zhu's wife

Praying according to God's will and in agreement with another Christian has great power. Both, however, are very difficult.

First, we need to pray according to God's will. How do I know God's will? We can have long discussions about this. So long that in the end we only discuss, talk and argue instead of praying. Second, to find another Christian who will agree is also difficult. As individuals, we like to have our own opinions and views. The basis for any prayer according to His will is - to His glory. Does my request glorify God?

I experienced this spiritual battle in a very realistic way. I had been separated from my daughter for three years. We both encountered great problems, persecutions and hardships. One day we agreed to claim the promise of Matthew 18:19. We prayed very earnestly - believing it would bring glory to God to bring us together again. All the circumstances were against us. God would have to perform a miracle to unite us again. The people around us would know and acknowledge that only God could bring it about. For Him nothing is impossible.

Moreover, God delights to give good gifts to his children.

What seemed impossible became possible - we were united. "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord" (Proverbs 21:1). He directed the authorities to grant us permission to be united. Let us have faith in a great God.

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "yes" in Christ. And so through Him the "amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Sister Zhu from China is a pillar of God's house in this vast land. Due to security reasons, we cannot introduce her further to you, but her testimony speaks for itself.

[Judy Harder]

Daily Courage
     


from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)

Pastor Zhu's wife

It is quite common that Christians have different opinions about certain matters. That is nothing to worry about. The important aspect is how we deal with differences.

Once, two Chinese brothers had different opinions. They talked about it, but soon their discussion ended in a heated argument. They both thought that their way of solving the problem was the best. The Holy Spirit spoke to their hearts, so instead of arguing about their differences they started to thank God - in prayer - for the things they agreed about - God's love, His creation, His forgiveness and grace etc. As they were praying and praising God they humbled themselves.

Their discussions ended in arguments - their prayers in union and unity. Their attitude became Christ's attitude - that of a servant.

Maybe we should talk less and pray more, and see God at work.

Sister Zhu from China is a pillar of God's house in this vast land. Due to security reasons, we cannot introduce her further to you, but her testimony speaks for itself.

[Judy Harder]

Daily Courage
     
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say.
(Matthew 10:19)

Pastor Zhu's wife

During the Cultural Revolution I was detained and isolated from the outside world because I refused to compromise with the enemies of God.

My husband was also detained. We were not allowed to communicate with each other. They tried to break our spirit by interrogating us individually.

One day they came and looked triumphantly at me. "Your husband is a good man. You should love him dearly. He loves you too and does not want you to suffer any longer. He has finally given us the names of those who have visited your house last year. Thanks to his co-operation he will be sentenced less severely. And so will you. But before we release you we want to check with you if the names your husband has given are correct!"

Afterwards, one realizes how simple and dirty this trick was. But at the time it was not simple - it was clever. Your body and spirit are weak - you want to get out of that dirty prison. Any offer sounds like an opportunity to be set free. How wonderful is God's grace and protection. When we are weak - He is strong. He will give us words to speak - and power to remain quiet where needed. How He does it? Through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

If God's word exhorts us not to worry when we get arrested, how much less should we worry about small, petty daily matters.

"Do not worry - for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).

Sister Zhu from China is a pillar of God's house in this vast land. Due to security reasons, we cannot introduce her further to you, but her testimony speaks for itself.

[Judy Harder]

 Daily Courage
     
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


The greatest amongst you will be your servant. (Matthew 23:11)

Pastor Zhu's wife

This is not an easy command. Normally, people like to be served instead of serving others.

Jesus Himself set the example, "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" (Matthew 20:28). The Disciples of Christ should follow in His footsteps.

During the 1950s I was studying at Beijing University. I loved to attend the meetings of the Christian Students' Association. This association did not have full time staff members - no, those who served the Christian students were fellow Christians. Not because they wanted to be great or important, but because they were important, because they served other people. When the government clamped down on the Church they arrested many of our "brothers and sisters." We could not meet openly anymore. We had to meet secretly - in homes. But we had learned an important lesson from our "brothers and sisters" - how to serve others. That's how we continued - serving one another. You want to be a blessing to other people? Then serve them maybe in a small way, a smile, a letter, a visit...

"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

Sister Zhu from China is a pillar of God's house in this vast land. Due to security reasons, we cannot introduce her further to you, but her testimony speaks for itself.