ACH Study Groups
Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders
7659 Gingerblossom Drive
Citrus Heights, CA 95621
916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com
www.ACHStudyGroups.com
March 6, 2015
This is a letter to our friends –
Thoughts on fear
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
[2nd Timothy 1:7]
Today’s radical Muslim images and actions are becoming more and more violent and sensational. That is with a purpose. Evil feeds upon fear.
Most Americans have grown up in a “plastic” world. We have the impression that police laboratories and detectives have only one case at a time. Further, that they are solved in an hour (less time-out for commercials)! We think all stories end with the “good guys” winning.
We say we have faith in God – but – We hesitate to put our faith to the test. We are assured by the verses about lying down in green pastures and cup running over – but – Not so much by walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
I was a new Christian in the mid 1960’s. A phone call summoned Fran and me to help a mother whose grown son was threatening her with his warlock father’s pistol. I had no knowledge of “spiritual warfare.” Before leaving for the encounter, I phoned a knowledgeable pastor friend. His advice, “You must rebuke fear.”
God used that event to illustrate to me the supernatural power of faith without fear.
With faith, what is the worst thing that can happen? Being martyred for faith in Christ appears to me to be the best way to go. On the other hand, facing down the source of fear often reveals a paper tiger.
We are called to love those who despitefully use us. Responding in anger fueled by fear will not go well! Forcing yourself to rebuke fear and keep a cool head is not an easy thing.
Evil exists. Hate exists. More important – God exists. He wants to teach us to love those who despitefully use us. Love becomes a powerful weapon.
That same God has been very harsh in directing the annihilation of evil societies.
What am I trying to say?
We need to recognize that the world is far less peaceful than America. If we are to preserve and protect that peace, we must keep cool heads. We must recognize reality and not live in denial. We must know that God honors faith NOT FEAR!
