The Truth in Print Vol. 29, Issue 4, May 2023
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928-782-5058)
Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
THE MARTYRS
Don’t be misled by claims based upon
what secular history says about the number of Christians killed for belief in
Christ, and obedience to the gospel (Rev 17:6). Some might even declare secular
history shows the number is fewer than most have thought from the time of Nero
to Constantine. Would I or you be willing to be a martyr? Understanding we
should if necessary die for Christ, cannot be thought to be making too much of
the lessons given for us in the New Testament.
“Be
sure you understand fully the correct order for all things. It begins with God
and His Word, then man’s faith and obedience to the Word (the New Testament
doctrine). Put the spiritual things in Christ above the physical cares and
pleasures of life. Value the eternal life of your soul above your own physical
life here, and be willing die for Christ if need be. When it comes to the
material universe He created, accept it as what it is i.e., material and not
eternal.” (B.L.)
“It
did happen. We don’t need secular history to establish the fact of our Lord’s
life here on earth, or that Christians were and will be persecuted. The Holy
Spirit didn’t make too much of it, nor of the lessons we learn from it. To
ignore or make less of persecutions today against those who believe in the
Bible and Christ is but one more attack from the ungodly.” (B.L.)
THE PROSPECT
(POSSIBILITY) OF PYHSICAL DEATH IS SEEN IN “TAKE HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME”
Mat
10:38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after
Me is not worthy of Me.
Mat
10:39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake
will find it.
JESUS SPOKE OF
ONE’S OWN FAMILY HATING THEM FOR BEING A DISCIPLE OF HIS
Mat 10:34 "Do not think that I came to
bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I have come to 'SET A MAN
AGAINST HIS FATHER, A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW';
Mat 10:36 and 'A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE
OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD.'
Mat 10:37 He who loves father or mother more
than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is
not worthy of Me.
Prior:
1.
He said to His disciples they will “scourge you” (Matt 10:17), “brother will
deliver up brother to death,” “a father his child,” “children …against parents
and cause them to be put to death” (Matt 10:21).
2.
He said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master”
(Matt 10:24).
3.
He expected them to preach and not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill
the soul (Matt 10:26-33).
WHY DID JESUS
CALL PETER “SATAN”?
Mat
16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to
Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and
scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
Mat
16:22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be
it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!"
Mat
16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an
offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of
men."
Note: “Offense” means “a thing that
offends.” Peter was looking still for an earthly reign of Christ and denying
His required death, and that figures in here. What are things men set their
minds on that keep them from following Christ? There are the cares
(distractions) of this world, riches and the deceitfulness of riches, and
pleasures of life (not all have to be sinful of themselves) to name some (Cf.
Lk 8:14). Men love money, the praise of man, the honor of prestige by the world’s
standards not God’s, and power.
WHEN THE
PHARISEES HEARD HIS TEACHING ON MAMMON THEY DERIDED HIM
· “mammon” > Strong’s definition: mammonas, that is, avarice (deified): - mammon.
Luk 16:13
"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and
love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You
cannot serve God and mammon."
Luk 16:14 Now
the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they
derided Him.
Luk 16:15 And He said to them, "You are
those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is
highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
TAKE UP YOUR
CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS RATHER THAN LOSE YOUR OWN SOUL
Mat
16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Mat
16:25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his
life for My sake will find it.
Mat
16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his
own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mat
16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels,
and then He will reward each according to his works.
Mat
16:28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste
death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
MUST NOT BE
ASHAMED OF “ME AND MY WORDS”
Mar
8:34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said
to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow Me.
Mar
8:35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his
life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.
Mar
8:36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his
own soul?
Mar
8:37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mar
8:38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful
generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the
glory of His Father with the holy angels."
· Paul said he suffered because he was chosen as
an apostle to preach the gospel: 2 Ti 1:7-13.
· 2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself
approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth.
· When I’m faithful and not ashamed of the
gospel it will be like Paul said:
2Ti 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly
in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
PAUL’S
IMPRISONMENT TURNED OUT UNTO THE FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL. SOME BRETHREN
BECAME MUCH MORE BOLD TO SPEAK THE WORD WITHOUT
FEAR.
Php
1:12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened
unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
Php
1:13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all
other places;
Php
1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much
more bold to speak the word without fear.
Php
1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good
will:
Php
1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add
affliction to my bonds:
Php
1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the
gospel.
Php
1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth,
Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
· Christians who do not give in to fear, and are
not ashamed of the truths of the gospel, will speak boldly and reprove the
unfruitful works of darkness (Eph 5:11 *definitions of “reprove” include, to confute, admonish: - convict, convince,
tell a fault, rebuke, reprove.) --- that
emboldens other to do likewise.
PAUL WOULD
MAGNIFY CHRIST IN HIS BODY BY LIFE OR DEATH
Php
1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and
the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
Php
1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall
be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be
magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
· If the martyrs are talked down, it could be so
people won’t be so concerned about the attack on the Bible and those who
believe in Christ today.
A SCRIPTURAL
DEFENSE AND RIGHTEOUS CONDUCT CAN MAKE THEM ASHAMED BY THEIR PREDICAMENT
1Pe
3:13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is
good?
1Pe
3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed.
"AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED."
1Pe
3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a
defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear;
1Pe
3:16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those
who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. --- As one put it,
“Ashamed by their predicament – difficult to extricate themselves from.”
LET’S NOT BE
ASHAMED
1Pe 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a
Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
TAKE UP YOUR
CROSS DAILY AND FOLLOW JESUS
Luk 9:23 Then He said to them all,
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross daily, and follow Me.
· Just about the time you think things are
smooth, peaceful, then here comes spiritual trouble.
THE RICH YOUNG
RULER WAS TOLD TO “TAKE THE CROSS” --- He Wasn’t Worthy Of Christ.
Mar
10:17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him,
and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal
life?"
Mar
10:21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing
you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you
will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
Mar
10:22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great
possessions.
Mar
10:23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is
for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"
· Where are the minds of most of the rich you
know?
“EVEN IF I HAVE
TO DIE WITH YOU, I WILL NOT DENY YOU!”
Mat
26:30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Mat
26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because
of Me this night, for it is written: 'I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP
OF THE FLOCK WILL BE SCATTERED.'
Mat
26:32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
Mat
26:33 Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble
because of You, I will never be made to stumble."
Mat
26:34 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before
the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
Mat
26:35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny
You!" And so said all the disciples.
MUST HAVE COURAGE
TO FACE YOUR ENEMIES
When Jesus Heard Lazarus Was Sick
Joh
11:6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place
where He was.
Joh
11:7 Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea
again."
Joh
11:8 The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone
You, and are You going there again?"
Joh
11:9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone
walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this
world. ß
B.L. NECESSARY TO GO TO FULFILL GOD’S
WORK.
Joh
11:10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in
him."
…
Joh
11:16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples,
"Let us also go, that we may die with Him."
· Good for Thomas!
WHEN ALL FORSOOK
HIM AND FLED (THE BETRAYAL AND ARREST)
Mat
26:47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a
great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders
of the people.
Mat
26:49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!"
and kissed Him.
Mat
26:51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and
drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
Mat
26:52 But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who
take the sword will perish by the sword. Not the death Jesus foretold for them!
Mat
26:53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide
Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
Mat
26:54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen
thus?"
Mat
26:55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as
against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you,
teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.
Mat
26:56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be
fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
MARTYR (G3144)
Thayer’s definition:
1c)
in an ethical sense
1c1)
those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their
faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death: Acts 22:20; Rev 2:13; Rev
17:6
· The same word for martyr is translated various
places as “witness,” and their testimony would be the reason they were put to
death.
STEPHEN DID NOT
BACK OFF
The Council Stoned Stephen (Acts
6:8-7:60; Acts 22:19-20)
· Great signs and wonders done by, 6:9.
· They can’t answer God’s wisdom spoken by
Stephen.
· They brought false witnesses, 6:11.
· They got their warning – a sign from God,
6:15.
· After the history lesson – YOU!, 7:51
· Gnashed at him (“to grate the teeth”), 7:54
It is amazing how the Antifas, Wokes
and the Pro-Trans radicals can’t tolerate the one who rightly and peacefully
stands their ground with the truth --- as the intolerants grow madder and
madder one or some will physically attack the one who disagrees --- and their
violence is more often ignored and not punished, and even lied about by
authorities. It is not difficult to scripturally answer Woke Psychologists who
say gender has nothing to do with the physical anatomy or body.
· If I get attacked for speaking the truth about
Sin, I may survive and I might not. While one has the right of self-defense, a
Christian doesn’t recompence back evil for evil (Rom 12:17) --- they leave
vengeance up to God’s wrath knowing He will deal with them (Rom 12:19-21; 2 Th
1:5-10).
JEWS, INCLUDING
SAUL BEFORE HIS CONVERSION (ACTS 9), PERSECUTED THE CHURCH
· Saul Was Present At The Death Of Stephen
Act_7:58 and they cast him out of the
city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a
young man named Saul.
Act 7:59 And they stoned Stephen as he
was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Act 7:60 Then he knelt down and cried
out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And
when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Act 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his
death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at
Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and
Samaria, except the apostles.
Act 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen
to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Act 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of
the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing
them to prison.
·
Paul Spoke of His
Persecutions Prior To Conversion
Act
26:9 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of
Jesus of Nazareth.
Act
26:10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison,
having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to
death, I cast my vote against them.
Act
26:11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to
blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even
to foreign cities.
1Ti
1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted
me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
1Ti
1:13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man;
but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
JAMES THE BROTHER
OF JOHN
Herod Agrippa I, killed James With The
Sword (Acts 12:1-2)
· The Lord called James and John “The Sons of
Thunder” or “Boanerges, meaning sons of thunder” (Mar 3:17). That implied zeal.
· When a Samaritan village does not receive
Jesus --- they weren’t thinking of saving souls, but had the wrong spirit –
they wanted Jesus to call down fire from heaven and destroy them.
Luk
9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up,
he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Luk
9:52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a
village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
Luk
9:53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go
to Jerusalem.
Luk
9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou
that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias
did?
Luk
9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of
spirit ye are of.
Luk
9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.
And they went to another village.
· Their Own Persecutions Foretold
The Request of James and John
Mar
10:35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master,
we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
Mar
10:36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
Mar
10:37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand,
and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
Mar
10:38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the
cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized
with?
Mar
10:39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed
drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized
withal shall ye be baptized:
Mar
10:40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but
it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
· John had zeal in old age. He was ready and
would deal with the evil Diotrephes in the church (3 Jo 9-10). He was not an
older preacher who spoke in generalities, still seeking a place “here” for
himself.
PAUL WAS WAITING
(2 Tim 4:6-8).
ANTIPAS IN
PERGAMOS IS CALLED “MY FAITHFUL MATRYR” (Rev 2:13).
*Stayed faithful unto a violent death
(Rev 2:10).
IN THE BOOK OF
REVELATION MUCH IS SAID OF MARTYRS
· The Souls Under The Altar In Heaven (Rev
6:9-11)
Rev
6:9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who
had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
Rev
6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and
true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the
earth?"
Rev
6:11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that
they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow
servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
· Christians Had The Promise Christ Would
Triumph Over Satan And Rome
Rev
13:10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with
the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of
the saints.
· The Beast Of The Earth Is Said To Represent
The False Prophet (Rev 19:20) – Serving Emperors And Promoting Emperor
Worship
Rev 13:15 He was granted power to give
breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak
and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
Note: The first beast is “of the sea”
(Rev 14:1) representing Rome. The second beast is “of the earth” representing
the false prophet. This speaks of images of Rome’s emperors who were seen as
gods, and the worship of their images as demanded and enforced. If one would
not worship the image they were killed. God promised He would punish those who
did worship the beast and his image eternally (Rev 14:9-11).
· The Perseverance Of The Saints Is Keeping The
Commandments Of God And The Faith Of Jesus
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the
saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:13 Then I heard a voice
from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the
Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may
rest from their labors, and their works follow them."
· God’s Wrath Is Poured Out On Those Who Have
Shed The Blood Of The Saints And Prophets
Rev 16:5 And I heard the angel of the
waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and
who is to be, Because You have judged these things.
Rev 16:6 For they have shed the blood
of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their
just due."
Rev 16:7 And I heard another from the
altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your
judgments."
·
The Great Harlot
Is Drunk With The Blood Of The Saints
Rev
17:6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of
the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great
amazement.
· Be sure you understand fully the correct order
for all things. It begins with God and His Word, then man’s faith and obedience
to the Word (the New Testament doctrine). Put the spiritual things in Christ
above the physical cares and pleasures of life. Value the eternal life of your
soul above your own physical life here, and be willing die for Christ if need
be. When it comes to the material universe He created, accept it as what it is
i.e., material and not eternal.
CONCLUSION: It did happen. We don’t need
secular history to establish the fact of our Lord’s life here on earth, or that
Christians were and will be persecuted. The Holy Spirit didn’t make too much of
it, nor of the lessons we learn from it. To ignore or make less of persecutions
today against those who believe in the Bible and Christ is but one more attack
from the ungodly.
Valley
Church of Christ
2375 W. 8th
Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928)
782-5058 ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday
Services – Classes ~10:00; Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday
evening – 7:00 pm
To learn more call, visit or visit our website
at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com