Facing FearSample

FEAR GOD, FEAR NOTHING ELSE The Apostle John repeatedly teaches that loving God (other Bible writers refer to it as “fearing” God) is the antidote to human fear. Fear is a tactic of Satan which all believers must face. Those under severe persecution often face this challenge early in their discipleship. Behbaha, an Iranian secret believer from Muslim background, shares that her aunt went to a house church and she accompanied her. But she was afraid. She knew that the government wanted to control and extinguish the church and that scared her. In the house church she attended with her aunt, she took a one-week course learning about the Bible and what Jesus taught in a very practical way. Taking this study was a great blessing for Behbaha. She says, “I saw the good Lord of the Bible, saw His love—and that changed my life.” After six years of searching she gave her life to Jesus. The good thing is that her family does not have any problems with her changing and going to church. “Neighbors are the problem”, she states. “The government tells on radio and TV that if you know a person who is not dedicated to the government or to Islam you should go to the police and tell them when you suspect someone of being a Christian.” She does not know if she is observed by the secret police. Behbaha is not aware of being watched. “But I have to be careful, they are able to kill me,” she says with conviction. “Sometimes people are killed; sometimes they have to leave the country. Maybe, if they catch me, I will be killed, but this week of training took away my fear.” Behbaha wants to pass on the training to her family and friends. “I want to share and show love. My dream after this training is to have house groups with my family members, friends and colleagues to teach them. But…your life should be a good testimony to everyone and Jesus must increase in your life. I am working on that.” Today I will focus on fearing God so that I will not fear anything or anyone else.