Keep Worshipping Jehovah When Under Ban - WILL A BAN END OUR WORSHIP WITH JEHOVAH?

Mere human opposers cannot stamp out the worship of the Almighty God, Jehovah.  Many have tried and failed.  Consider what happened during World War  II.  At that time, governments in many countries intensely persecuted God's people.  The work of Jehovah's Witnesses was banned not only by the Nazi party in Germany but also by governments in Australia, Canada,  and other lands. Yet, note what took place. In 1939 when the war began, there were 72,475 publishers worldwide. Reports showed that by the end of the war in 1945, with Jehovah's blessing, there were 156,299 publishers. The number of publishers had more than doubled!

 Rather than intimidate us, opposition can motivate us to serve Jehovah more fully. For example, one couple who had a young child lived in a country  where the government decided to ban our worship. Instead of shrinking back in fear, the couple began regularly pioneering. The wife even quit her well-paying job to do so.  The husband said that the ban made many people curious about Jehovah's Witnesses.  As a result, he found it easier to start Bible studies.  The ban had a positive effect on others as well. And elder in the same  country commented that many who had stopped serving Jehovah began to attend meeting and were reactivated.

 When our enemies ban our worship, the hope to make us afraid to serve Jehovah.  In addition to the ban, they may circulate  false stories, send officials to search our homes, drag us to court, or even imprison some of us. They hope that we will be terrified because they managed to put a small number of us in prison.  If we were to allow them to instill fear in our heart, we might even begin to "ban" our own worship.  We would not want to become like those described at Leviticus 26:36, 37. (Read.)  We will not allow fear to cause us to reduce or to stop our spiritual activities. We trust completely in Jehovah and refuse to panic.  (Isaiah  28:167)  We prayerfully seek Jehovah's guidance. We know that with  his backing, not even the most powerful human government can prevent us from faithfully worshipping our God.  - HEBREWS 13:6.

Next time: Keep Worshipping Jehovah  When Under Ban - SHOULD I MOVE TO ANOTHER LAND?

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