READ:
ACTS 7:54-60
Apart
from soul winning, you can also receive very great rewards into your heavenly
account through martyrdom. This is when you have loved Jesus to the point of
losing your life physically. Martyrdom comes with a very, special reward
because of its nature. To accept martyrdom means to be ready to forsake your
earthly career and pursuits. It means to value Jesus beyond your life, family
and everything of value in your eyes.Sit is then limit of love: that is to show
that your love for Jesus has been equated with His love for you. He loved you
to the point of dying for you. By martyrdom, you love Him to the point of dying
fro Him.
Several believer in Christ have had to lose their lives for the Lord. In the old testament, Abel and some prophets of God were murdered in cold blood because of their faith in God. In the new testament, we see Deacon Steven, Apostle James and others. Bible history tells us that most of the twelve apostles died as martyrs. Many more followed in the church age. Hebrews 11:35-40 talks of many who were tortured or stoned to death. In various kingdoms and empires, even in the recent past where intense persecution arose against Christians, they were made to go through inhuman torture leading to death. Some were thrown to wild lions and eaten alive before a cheering crowd of unbelievers.
Unfortunately, Satan thinks by killing Christians he can put an end to Christianity. Earth cannot stop what Heaven has started. After each martyrdom, several people among the cheering unbelievers are converted to the Christian faith. Jesus gave His life for us and through His death millions and millions of people have been born into God’s Kingdom. If you die for Christ, your death will automatically generate the birth of many into God’s Kingdom. It was the death of Stephen that triggered off the salvation of Saul who later almost the then known world around for Jesus. If the Stephens are not martyred, the Pauls will not come. Dying for Christattracts the highest honours and crowns in Heaven. Jesus had to stand up for Stephen when he was being lynched. How much do you love Jesus? Do you love Him to the point of dying for Him? If you lose your life for Him you will find that life several fold in eternity (John 12:25). Wherever you are, stand up and serve Jesus even unto death. Your faith in Jesus Christ is more than worth dying for.
Several believer in Christ have had to lose their lives for the Lord. In the old testament, Abel and some prophets of God were murdered in cold blood because of their faith in God. In the new testament, we see Deacon Steven, Apostle James and others. Bible history tells us that most of the twelve apostles died as martyrs. Many more followed in the church age. Hebrews 11:35-40 talks of many who were tortured or stoned to death. In various kingdoms and empires, even in the recent past where intense persecution arose against Christians, they were made to go through inhuman torture leading to death. Some were thrown to wild lions and eaten alive before a cheering crowd of unbelievers.
Unfortunately, Satan thinks by killing Christians he can put an end to Christianity. Earth cannot stop what Heaven has started. After each martyrdom, several people among the cheering unbelievers are converted to the Christian faith. Jesus gave His life for us and through His death millions and millions of people have been born into God’s Kingdom. If you die for Christ, your death will automatically generate the birth of many into God’s Kingdom. It was the death of Stephen that triggered off the salvation of Saul who later almost the then known world around for Jesus. If the Stephens are not martyred, the Pauls will not come. Dying for Christattracts the highest honours and crowns in Heaven. Jesus had to stand up for Stephen when he was being lynched. How much do you love Jesus? Do you love Him to the point of dying for Him? If you lose your life for Him you will find that life several fold in eternity (John 12:25). Wherever you are, stand up and serve Jesus even unto death. Your faith in Jesus Christ is more than worth dying for.
MEMORIZE: JOHN 12:24 –Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a corn of wheat
fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it dies, it brings forth
much fruit.
