Martyrs And My Simple Christian Life Show video Three things have deeply affected me the past 2 weeks. The beheading of Christians Sudden death of a husband and father Struggle of a friend with addiction I don t apologize for tonight s message. It s different. Unless you have been living under a rock you should know what is happening around the world. Describe recent beheadings What were you and I doing in our easy simple Christian lives as these men gave their lives for Christ? What were we giving our lives for? We can t be insensitive to the persecution of the church around the world. I ve not watched the video I don t have the courage to but none the less I am deeply troubled by it. I have to ask myself, would I have the courage to do what these men did? I would like to say yes. But has my Christian life and walk be so easy and simple that when faced with the adversity and trial of this magnitude would I crumble? I know that I want to say as Peter said Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death. But the reality is Peter denied the Lord three times. Would I do the same? What about you, would you do the same? A brother of two of the martyrs said this on a call in radio show on Sat7 which is a Christian talk show Making God s love visible across the Middle East. He referred to them as martyr. He said he was proud of them (Bishoy - 25 and Samuel - 23) They are a badge of honor to Christianity
ISIS gave us more than we asked when they didn t edit out of the video the part where they declared their faith and called Jesus Christ. ISIS helped us strengthen our faith. I thanked ISIS they didn t cut the audio when they screamed declaring their faith. (Foxe s Book of Martyrs page 392) When asked how his family is doing he replied: Believe me when I tell you the people here are happy and congratulating one another. They are not in a state of grief, but congratulation one another for having so many from our village die as martyrs. We are proud of them. When asked if he or someone in his family would get upset if we ask for forgiveness for those who killed your brothers, he replied: Today I was having a chat with my mother asking her what she would do if she saw one of ISIS members on the street. She said this: She would invite him home because he helped us enter the Kingdom of heaven. He went on to say: Believe me these were my mother s words. I asked her what she would do if she saw an ISIS member passing on the street and I told you that s the man who slayed your son. She said: I will ask for God to open his eyes and ask him in our house because he helped us enter the Kingdom of God. Then he prayed for the ISIS members who killed his brothers: Dear God please open their eyes to be saved and to quit their ignorance and the wrong teachings they were taught. Throughout history men and women have given their lives for the faith in Jesus Christ. What have you and I done? While Christians are killed for their faith we are complaining the preacher speaks past noon. While men are marched bound on to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea to have their head cut off because they won t renounce their faith in Jesus we complain the music is too loud or not loud enough. Men and women tortured for their faith. What have you and I done for our faith? While Christians suffer around the world and are killed people get upset because the podcast from their church isn t available for a few days.
It s a matter of perspective. As people die for their belief that Jesus is God, what am I doing with my simple easy Christian life? American Exceptionalism A great country to live in We don t have the monopoly on truth and knowledge Too often we don t understand the rest of the world because we are isolated and insulated from the suffering. Sometimes I think the Christians in other parts of the world understand more than we do what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Why do we get upset yet this brother is willing to forgive and pray that the killers get saved? o They have little to live for in this life. Their treasure is in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Is our treasure really in heaven? How much do we have here that the rest of the world doesn t have? o We have the comforts of this world like the rich man had the comforts of this world and Lazarus didn t. (Luke 16:19-31) o We see it as an injustice. But if we look at scripture, none of the disciples viewed their lives here as real life. They never viewed their suffering for Christ as an injustice. They viewed it as an honor much like martyr Bishoy and martyr Samuel s brother did. o Foxe s Book of Martyrs John the Baptist Beheaded (Mark 6:27-30) Stephen Stoned to death (Acts 7:54-60) James and an unknown accuser/soldier Beheaded (Foxe s Book of Martyrs page 6) Thomas Stabbed with a spear Mark Drawn with ropes into the fire Bartholomew Beaten, crucified, skinned, and beheaded Andrew -- was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his
body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: "I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it." He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he died. Matthew Run through with a spear Philip Crucified and stoned to death James (The Lord s brother) The leader of the church in Jerusalem, was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club. This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation. Peter Crucified upside down by the Romans Paul Beheaded by the Romans John Exiled to the Isle of Patmos Polycarp (2 nd Century Christian Bishop) Burned and stabbed (Page 20 Foxe s Book of Martyr s) The list goes on of the Early Christians martyred for their faith We think we are being persecuted when the government says the Ten Commandments can t be displayed in a public place or there can t be religious songs at a school Christmas play. People that s not persecution! That s an inconvenience; that s simply and annoyance. That s something we can try to change through prayer and legislation. Get over it. There are people today who are getting their heads cut off because of their faith in Jesus Christ and we are more concerned about a symbol of our faith than we are the substance of our faith. How many people are going to get saved because the Ten Commandments are displayed in a public place? Probably none! They are going to get saved because you shared the gospel of Christ with them.
If you are more concerned about Hollywood and the entertainment industry introducing a gay character into your favorite TV show than you are about 21 Christian men getting their heads chopped off because they wouldn t deny Christ then you need to re-evaluate your priorities and your walk with God. The world is the world. They do what the world does. All we need be concerned about is Christ and His love for humankind and His desire to be longsuffering to us so that none would perish but that all would come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) Martyr John Lambert (Foxe s Book of Martyr s page 318) None but Christ, none but Christ. This is not our life! We are strangers and pilgrims longing for the Kingdom of heaven. We are simply passing through. When this world and this life hold our treasures we won t want to leave. While Christians are decapitated for their faith people in American churches are complaining that their kids don t like the Bible stories in Children s Church because it s boring so they are going to go to a church with a more exciting children s ministry, music ministry, youth ministry, and on and on. People are dying for their faith in Christ, what are you and I doing, other than complaining? What s The Answer? Cling to Christ. In Christ alone. As Martyr John Lambert declared as his body burned... None but Christ, none but Christ. Christianity isn t some formula we follow. Do a, b, c, and things will work out. It s a relationship with a Savior. It s a commitment that this is how I want to live out my life because it makes sense when nothing else does. It s a trust and faith in something that is greater than and higher than me. (Isaiah 55:8-9).
To cling to Christ means to hold fast to Him when nothing else in your life makes sense. When all else is falling apart Christ is the solid rock you can stand on. Paul was constantly dealing with people who were in danger of slipping back into their old ways and abandoning the faith that had been brought to them and that they had accepted and believed. Example: Galatians 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel. Example: Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith, without wavering for he is faithful that promised. People need a firm place to stand. They need something to believe in and trust. Something that they know will last. That s why it is vital that we learn to stand firm in the Lord. Different versions: stand firm, stand fast, stay true Definitions: Stand firm; to persevere; to persist; to keep one s standing. We cannot give in every time we face a hardship. I am amazed at how many times the scriptures tell us to hold fast or stand firm. Hold Fast 7 times Stand Fast 6 times Stand Firm 14 times in the NIV What do we cling to when we cling to Christ: 1. The Faith (I Corinthians 16:13) We do this by adhering to it a. If we do not stand firm in our faith we do not stand at all (Isaiah 7:9) 2. In freedom from legal bondage (Galatians 5:1) a. We can t allow petty legalism to bring us into bondage. This yoke of slavery is twofold it s bondage of sin and the bondage legalism under the pretense that is what brings salvation. 3. In one spirit (Philippians 1:27). The one spirit is the Holy Spirit and the unity of the spirit.
4. In the Lord (Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:8). To stand firm in the Lord means to willingly subject ourselves to His authority. 5. The Apostles teachings (2 Thessalonians 2:15). We are to stand firm in the Apostles teachings especially as those teachings relate to Jesus Christ and who he is and what he has done. Don t put your hope in this world or this government. God chastised Israel for that very thing. (Isaiah 30:1-3) People will let you down, and the government will let you down. We are citizens of heaven not earth; we are citizens where Christ is the ruler and king not a man. (Philippians 3:20) Are you eagerly awaiting his return? Sometimes we are too busy with this simple comfortable life that we forget about the real eternal life. Willingly suffer for Christ. If persecution comes to America, accept and embrace it. It s not an ungodly act to be persecuted. Why we American Christians think we are better than the rest of the world is a mystery. The birthplace of Christianity wasn t and isn t the United States. It was in the middle east where most much of the persecution is taking place. The disciples considered themselves worthy to suffer for Christ. Acts 5:41 2 Thessalonians 1:3-7 (There are times we just have to persevere) Romans 8:17 (Everyone wants the glory no one wants the suffering) Philippians 1:29 (We all want to believe but we don t want to suffer) 2 Timothy 3:12 (The godly will be persecuted) 1 Peter 3:14 (We may suffer even for what is right) 1 Peter 4:16 (Suffer as a Christian and praise God you bear the name)
Rather than give unbelievers reason to hate you because of a judgmental and pious attitude; give them reason to question their position because of a loving, caring, and tender heart and because of your undying devotion and commitment to Christ. Too often Christians seem to want to make enemies of those who oppose them. We tend to want to fight the fleshly battle rather than the spiritual warfare. (Ephesians 6:10-20). View this life as temporary. (James 4:13-16) What is your life? I always risk sounding negative when I talk about this, but in reality it s the most positive idea we can embrace. Real life is eternal life. This is not real life. This life is only for a moment. Help others who are suffering or need us to bear their burden. (Galatians 6:1-5) All around us are people who are struggling. They are struggling with sin, addictions, depression, finances, or a myriad of other issues. If we aren t careful we develop the attitude that I made it without anyone s help and they should be able to also. But did you really make it without anyone helping you? Probably not. When someone is caught in a sin it s not that you are someone else caught them and are not reporting on it. What Paul is saying is they are caught as trapped. Like a spider web. They are caught and can t get out. They need someone to help them. Are you ready to help or harm? Too often our attitude is well if they would just do this or that then these things wouldn t happen and that may be correct but that doesn t help them get out of the trap. It just makes them feel worse. Suffer with others and rejoice with others (1 Corinthians 12:26; Hebrews 13:3)
How do we suffer with others? Forgo some of our own creature comforts for the benefit of others. If someone is struggling financially then help them out. If someone is suffering through an illness then pray for them and meet some tangible need they might have. We live in an individualized society and culture. But with the Body of Christ it isn t so. Yet of the centuries this mentality has crept into the church to the point we live as individuals rather than a body or community of believers. The danger of this is that we begin to look out for #1. We prefer ourselves over our brother which is a direct contradiction of scripture. We should have equal concern for each other (1 Corinthians 12:25) How do we rejoice with others? Get rid of selfishness and pride. Rid yourself of jealousy and envy. If someone is rejoicing in an accomplishment, be genuinely happy for them. Share in their joy. Responsive Reading of Colossians 3:1-17: Keith: 1 Since I have been raised to new life with Christ, I ll set my sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. 2 I will think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Congregation: 3 For I died to this life, and my real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is my life, is revealed to the whole world, I will share in all his glory.
Keith: 5 So I put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within me. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. I won t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. Congregation: 7 I used to do these things when my life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time for me to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Keith: 9 We shouldn t lie to each other, for we have stripped off our old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 We have put on our new nature, and are renewed as we learn to know our Creator and become like him. Congregation: 11 In this new life, it doesn't matter if I am are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in me. 12 Since God chose us to be the holy people he loves, we must clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Keith: 13 I must make allowance for other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends me. Remember, the Lord forgave me, so I must forgive others. 14 Above all, I should clothe myself with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Congregation: 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in our hearts. For as members of one body we are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill our lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. All: 17 And whatever I do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.