Let God Turn a Crisis into a Victory | Pastor Pavel Goia
Summary
TLDRThe speaker recounts his experience as a Christian in the Romanian army under communism, where he faced persecution for his faith. Despite threats of imprisonment for not working on the Sabbath, he found strength in God, trusting that all things work for good for those who love the Lord. Miraculously, a general's unexpected visit led to his release, illustrating the power of faith and God's intervention in human crises.
Takeaways
- 🙏 Trust in God's infinite power and love to turn crises into victories and challenges into miracles.
- 🔍 Seek a relationship with God rather than just looking for miracles.
- 🌟 Remember that everything happens for a reason and that God allows things to happen for a purpose.
- 💪 Do not fear people, for a strong faith in God eliminates the need to be afraid of human authority.
- 📖 Despite restrictions, find creative ways to maintain your spiritual practice, such as secretly reading Bible verses hidden in letters.
- ⏰ Spend time in prayer and study to build a relationship with God and gain strength for the day's trials.
- 🗣 Stand firm in your beliefs even when faced with the threat of severe punishment for not conforming to others' demands.
- 🙏 Pray with selflessness, focusing on God's will rather than personal desires, to experience true peace and divine guidance.
- 🛡 In times of crisis, surrender to God's will and be willing to sacrifice personal freedom for the sake of faith.
- 🌈 God can turn a personal crisis into an opportunity for spiritual growth and a testimony to others, even in the face of opposition.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the story shared in the transcript?
-The main theme of the story is the power of faith and trust in God during challenging times, and how God can turn crises into victories and challenges into miracles.
Why was the narrator targeted by the captain in the army?
-The narrator was targeted by the captain because he was an Adventist, a religious belief that was not aligned with the communist regime's atheism.
How did the narrator's girlfriend secretly communicate religious content to him?
-The narrator's girlfriend would write long letters filled with seemingly nonsensical content about everyday topics, and then hide a paragraph from the Bible or inspired books within these letters.
What was the significance of the narrator's early morning routine?
-The significance of the narrator's early morning routine was to spend time in prayer and study with God, which gave him strength to face the trials of the day.
Why was the narrator ordered to dig a hole on a Sabbath day?
-The narrator was ordered to dig a hole on a Sabbath day as a test of his religious convictions and an attempt by the captain to undermine his authority and force him to work on a day he considered holy.
How did the narrator respond to the captain's order to work on the Sabbath?
-The narrator refused to work on the Sabbath, citing his religious beliefs, and was willing to face imprisonment rather than compromise his faith.
What was the turning point in the story that led to the narrator not being imprisoned?
-The turning point was the unexpected visit of a high-ranking general who intervened after learning about the narrator's good deeds and work ethic, and ordered the officers not to imprison him.
What lesson did the narrator's father teach him about fear and faith?
-The narrator's father taught him not to fear people because having a big God means not needing to be afraid, as God's presence and support make problems seem small.
How did the narrator's prayer change during his time of crisis?
-Initially, the narrator prayed for personal protection and deliverance. However, he shifted his focus to surrendering to God's will, asking for strength to honor God even if it meant going to prison.
What was the outcome of the narrator's willingness to accept God's will during his crisis?
-The outcome was that the narrator experienced a sense of peace and God's presence, and ultimately, divine intervention through the general's intervention, which led to him not being imprisoned.
Outlines
🙏 Trust in God During Crisis
The speaker reflects on the power of faith in God during challenging times. They emphasize that God's infinite power and love can transform crises into victories and challenges into miracles. The speaker believes that seeking a relationship with God is more important than seeking miracles. They also stress the importance of recognizing that everything happens for a reason and that God allows events to unfold for a purpose that may not be immediately clear. The speaker shares a personal story from their time in the Romanian Army as a lieutenant, where they faced persecution for their Adventist beliefs. Despite threats from a captain who wanted to punish them for not conforming to the communist regime's atheism, the speaker remained steadfast in their faith, drawing strength from their belief that God is with them and will support them through any trial.
🛡 Standing Firm in Faith
The narrative continues with the speaker recounting a specific incident where they were ordered to work on the Sabbath, which goes against their religious beliefs. The captain, in an attempt to assert his authority and punish the speaker for their faith, threatened them with imprisonment. Despite the escalating consequences, from a few years in prison to potential execution, the speaker chose to obey their faith over the captain's orders. They reflect on their prayer, initially seeking protection for themselves, but then shifting to a prayer of surrender to God's will, even if it meant going to prison. The speaker's unwavering commitment to their faith, even in the face of severe punishment, highlights the power of putting God first and the peace that comes from such devotion.
🌟 Divine Intervention and Unexpected Outcomes
In the final paragraph, the speaker describes a surprising turn of events where a high-ranking general unexpectedly visits the garrison and learns about the speaker's situation. The general, impressed by the speaker's contributions to the garrison without any compensation, questions the captain's decision to imprison the speaker. The general's intervention results in the captain and other officers backing down, and the speaker is no longer threatened with imprisonment. This unexpected outcome serves as a testament to the speaker's faith in God's ability to turn a crisis into a victory. The story concludes with the speaker's realization that when they put God first and trust in His plan, they are granted peace and strength, and they are never truly alone.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Crisis
💡Infinite Power
💡Love
💡Miracle
💡Relationship
💡Purpose
💡Fear
💡Sabbath
💡Freedom
💡Peace
💡Prayer
Highlights
God's infinite power and love can transform crises into victories and challenges into miracles.
Seeking a relationship with God is more important than looking for miracles during difficult times.
Everything happens for a divine purpose, even if it's not immediately understood.
Knowing God brings peace and trust, even in the face of adversity.
Fear of people is a sign of a small view of God; a big God eliminates such fear.
Problems seem small when compared to the greatness of God.
God's presence provides strength and support during trials.
Maintaining a relationship with God requires spending time in prayer and study.
The speaker's girlfriend secretly sent him religious texts hidden within mundane letters.
The importance of starting the day with God for strength and peace.
A confrontation with an atheist captain who demanded work on the Sabbath.
The captain's threat of imprisonment for not working on the Sabbath.
The speaker's refusal to compromise his faith, even in the face of severe punishment.
A prayer for self-surrender to God's will, regardless of personal desires.
The peace that comes from surrendering to God's plan, even when it involves personal sacrifice.
An unexpected intervention by a high-ranking general that prevented the speaker's imprisonment.
The general's recognition of the speaker's contributions and his order to leave him alone.
The transformation of a crisis into a victory through faith and divine intervention.
The importance of putting God first in all circumstances, which can lead to personal growth and strength.
Transcripts
many times we wonder what to do when we
go through
crisis but
God is infinite EMP power and love God
can turn a crisis into a victory he can
turn a
challenge into a miracle not necessarily
that we should look for miracles we
should rather look for God and for
relationship but we need to remember
that nothing happens by chance all
things and all means all all things work
together for the benefit of those who
love the Lord basically God allows
things for a purpose that we don't
understand and if we don't know him we
are going to stress and struggle and
panic but if we know him even when we
don't understand what's going on in our
lives we are going to trust in him and
have peace I'm going to give you a story
that would illustrate that very well I
was in the Army in
Romania everybody had to go to the Army
in that time and because I was a student
in University I didn't have to go to the
regular army but rather to a special
type of army where students would go and
it was a shorter term and so on and so I
was in the Army I was a lieutenant and
they put their eyes on me and they said
to me we know who you are you are an
Adventist I said yes we don't believe in
God in this country we are communist so
we are not going to allow you to do what
you want
well the captain came to me I'm not
going to mention his name he was a very
angry man he had curly hair when he
would tuck he was spitting he would tuck
so much and so much saliva in his mouth
that you was pitting all the time you
need an umbrella to protect yourself
from him and he was angry and he says we
don't believe in God I'm going to teach
you a lesson and if you don't obey I'm
going to put you in prison and destroy
you and terminate your life in my mind I
said you don't look like the Terminator
like Schwarzenegger but you know I
didn't say anything I want you to be
polite but my father taught me that I
should not fear
people if you fear people you must have
a very small God because when you have a
big God you don't need to be
afraid when you have big problems that
means that you have a small God because
if you have a big God is not that you
don't have problems you do have problems
but compared to God they seem very small
because if God is with you you don't
need to worry he will be with you you
are never alone and if he allows it he
will support you give you strength and
help you you put your eyes on God you
don't put your eyes on problems and so I
was not afraid of him I said I'll will
put my eyes on God but it's easy to tell
the story not so easy to go through the
story when you go through challenges
it's a little more difficult than just
to tell about challenges and
so again and again he would make sure
that I follow what the Communist Regime
what the government says not what my God
says they didn't allow me to have a
Bible or to go to church my girlfriend
that later became my wife would send me
letters long letters 15 pages or more
and though she writes very nice she
purposely used a very bad writing so
they could not understand and she wrote
Nonsense about about cooking about games
about soccer about pingpong about tennis
and she would write garbage and write
nothing and write
nothing and after about seven eight
pages she put a paragraph from the Bible
and a paragraph from inspired books and
she did that because everything was
censored the Communist Regime would read
every letter to make sure that there is
no religious material in it and they
would read a little and say ah garbage
and they would stop reading when I get
the letter I would cut out the garbage
and keep only the paragraph in the
morning I would ask God to wake me up
early and with a little flashlight under
the blanket before the other soldiers
would wake up under the blanket I would
spend time with God you cannot have a
relationship with God unless you spend
time with him you cannot trust him or
know him unless you spend time with him
in prayer and study so I would spend
time in prayer and that gave me strength
for the day when I would would go
through trials I had God's presence and
I had peace one Saturday Sabbath morning
the captain came to me and he called me
outside and he put me in front of the
other soldiers and then he talked to me
he said I'm going to give you an order
you have to work today I said I cannot
work is Sabbath the Bible says that you
don't work on Sabbath there is no God
there is no Bible he garbage no God can
help you nobody can save you from our
hand nobody would save you from the
Communist Regime from the
government he said I gave the command
you obey me you don't obey me you go to
prison and if you don't obey me between
you and me it's two three four years
prison but if you don't obey me in front
of the other soldiers you undermine my
authority it's going to be 7 to 12 years
prison sometimes more 13 14 years prison
and if during the war we will just
execute you and then he ordered the
other soldiers to get straight they all
got straight they saluted him and after
they got aligned he ordered me to take
three steps forward Pang Pang Pang I
took three steps and then he said I want
you to dig a hole in the ground I said
I'm sorry I cannot do that it's Sabbath
he said it's a command I said why would
I do that well let's imagine that there
are enemy airplanes flying and you need
to dig a hole to hide from the enemies I
looked up I said there is no enemy
airplanes attacking me I want you to
imagine that there are enemy airplanes I
said well then you imagine that I dug
the
hole he got so angry he said if you
don't dig the holy go to prison I said
well do whatever you want I'm not going
to work today there is no God to save
you I said well my God can save me as
the three young man but even if he
doesn't I'll not compromise I'll put God
first above my freedom above my life he
got so angry that I disobey him in front
of the other soldiers he left the
training field he went back to the
Garrison he called an emergency meeting
with all the
officers and then he proposed maximum
prison 14 years in a difficult prison in
kakle that was the name of the city he
proposed prison for
me I didn't know what to do I didn't
want to go to prison 14 years in prison
is not a good life what happens to you
there plus they beat you plus they
torture you and he said to me in prison
we are going to break you and teach you
to break Sabbath and if you don't we are
going to prolong your sentence more and
more and more
years I went to the
warehouse I was in charge of the
warehouse all all the materials were
stored I locked the door and I started
to pray and very interesting first I
prayed for myself Lord protect me help
me I don't want to go to prison please
help me
but it came in my mind what my father
used to say to
me are you focusing on self or you focus
on God how do you pray because the more
you focus on self the more you actually
worship self but when you forget self
and focus on God you worship God and
only when you put God first he can work
in you and through
you my father said to me everyone in the
Bible was willing to surrender and ser
sacrifice self and put God first and the
Bible says that if you put him first he
will take care of the other
things that was a difficult prayer to
pray but I remembered what if Joseph
didn't go to prison God could have never
worked through him he was prime minister
of Egypt because he accepted to trust in
God and go to
prison what If Daniel said please I
don't want to go to Babylon as a slave
but because he trust in God in difficult
circumstances God not only the work in
his character but God used him to work
for
others so I prayed the difficult prayer
I said Lord I really don't want this
trial in my life I don't want to go to
prison but you say that all things work
together so I'm going to decide though I
don't understand I'm going to decide to
trust in you so I give you permission I
give you my consent do whatever you want
and if you want me to be free let me be
be free and if you want me to go to
prison give me strength to trust in you
and go to prison and to go wherever I
would honor you if you can if you need
me in prison and I would serve you in
prison and people would be saved in
prison then let me go to prison do
whatever you want that would honor you
but work in a way that this communist
people would know that there is a God
and they will have a chance to be saved
while I was praying after I gave up
praying for myself after I gave up my
freedom and I was I I was ready to
accept God's will and I said whatever
you want I will accept it whatever would
serve you and honor you and help people
to know you after I surrendered after I
was willing to sacrifice myself
instantly I had peace my problem was not
solved but I had peace I could sense
God's presence next to me in prayer in
that moment somebody knocked in the door
of the warehouse pav are you in side I
opened the door it was a sergeant
Chuchu and he says pav do you know what
happened I said no he said do you know
the general and he said the name of the
general I said no I don't know him well
there are four armies all armies belong
to one of these four branches and he's
the general of one of the armies of
Romania and he came unannounced to visit
and to inspect our Garrison and he found
us in a meeting we were in a meeting to
put you in prison we are ready to vote
all of us to put you in prison and he
said I came to inspect your Garrison and
I am impressed the driveway is fixed
last time two years ago it was broken
who fixed the driveway and they said
well Goya who is Goya a soldier how much
did you pay him oh he did it as a
volunteer I noticed you have new windows
last time there were Windows broken who
fixed the windows they said Goya he
knows how to cut glass he fixed the
windows how much did you pay him oh
nothing after 4:00 5 p.m. he goes around
and as a volunteer out of his heart if
there is something broken he would fix
it well I noticed that the fence was
broken and now he fixed who fixed the
fence Goya the roof was leaking who
fixed the roof Goya man this Goya does
everything how much did you pay him
nothing did you put a picture with him
next to the flag and say this is the
kind of soldiers we want everybody
should be like him did you honor him no
why are you in a meeting we want to put
a soldier in prison who Goya why would
you put him in prison well he didn't
work on Saturday what did you ask him to
do to dig a hole to hide from PLS why
would you ask him to do that there is no
work does he work the other days oh yeah
does he does propaganda against the
regime against the government no he's a
hard worker he's a good soldier does he
love his country yes then leave him
alone if you touch him I will make sure
that you lose your jobs don't you touch
him
and then the sergeant said to me do you
know the general I said no but I know
somebody bigger he said what probably he
thought that I know the president of the
country I don't know but I was referring
to
God from that day on nobody touch me
nobody touched me they would walk by
they would salute me and they would say
oh you don't have to work on Saturday
you can go home you can do whatever you
want just call the General and tell him
that we take care of you maybe he would
give us a promotion I told them I know
somebody bigger than I don't know the
general they said oh we know you know
somebody bigger just call them and and
talk to them about
us it was not easy to go through the
story when you go through
crisis even if you don't understand what
is going on when you put God first and
when you know him he will give you peace
and not only that he will give you
peace but he is able to turn a crisis
into a victory a challenge into growth
into an experience with him and he will
give you peace and he will give you
strength and he will be with you and you
are never alone
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