Broken Relationships Because of Jesus

behead by Islam

There are some 50 nations in the world today where Christians are persecuted for their faith, many of them dying a martyr’s death as they refuse to renounce their faith in their Lord Jesus Christ.

Twelve Christians were executed by ISIS for refusing to renounce Christ on August 28, 2015 outside of Aleppo, Syria.

They cut off the fingertips of a man’s 12 year old son and severely beat him, telling his father that they would stop the torture if he returned to Islam. When the father refused, they tortured and beat him, then they crucified him and his son.

One woman, right before she was beheaded, appeared to be smiling as she said, “Jesus!”  Can you imagine being able to smile while a sword was swinging down with enough force to sever your head from your body? Yet many others before her were able to do the same.

Jesus’ Disciples were Martyred

Jesus called twelve disciples to follow Him, to be witnesses of His teachings and life after He ascended to His Father. Each of them suffered horribly for their faith in Christ as the Son of God and as the only way to the Father. Most of them died a Martyr’s death.

  • Andrew: Martyrdom by crucifixion
  • Bartholomew (Often identified with Nathanael in the New Testament): Martyrdom by being flayed alive and crucified, head downward
  • James, the son of Zebedee: Martyrdom by being beheaded
  • James, the brother of the Lord: Martyrdom by being thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple at Jerusalem then stoned and beaten with clubs
  • John: Died of old age
  • Jude (Often identified with Thaddeus in the New Testament): Martyrdom by being beaten to death with a club
  • Judas: Suicide
  • Matthew: Martyrdom by being burned, stoned, or beheaded
  • Peter: Martyrdom by crucifixion at Rome, with his head downwards
  • Philip: Martyrdom by crucifixion, upside down
  • Simon: Martyrdom by crucifixion, or being sawn in half
  • Thomas: Martyrdom by being stabbed with a spear

Stephen was stoned to death, in Acts 7:54-60, for refusing to deny his Lord Jesus Christ. He was able to ask God to forgive his persecutors, while he called on God saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Persecuted and Blessed

Jesus said, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”  (Matthew 5:10-12)

Christ, as High Priest, prayed for us

Christ, as our High Priest, prays for us that His Father would keep us, that we could become one, as He and His Father are one. Christ does not pray for us to be taken out of the world, but that we would be kept from the evil that is in the world. Christ prays for us that we should be set apart, or sanctified, by His Word of Truth. Christ promised we would have tribulation while in the world, but we could have hope because He had overcome the world and the evil one. He has given us His power to do the same through the New Birth of His Holy Spirit. (John chapter 17)

Relating in Relationship

Adam failed to maintain a personal relationship with God in the garden. He listened to Eve, who chose to walk by sight, and reasoned with the enemy of their souls, instead of trusting God to know what was best for them. They no longer could relate to God; and God could no longer relate to them. The fellowship was broken; and they found themselves outside the garden. God no longer walked with them in the cool of the evenings.

Broken relationships – a sign of His Second Coming

Jesus said one of the signs of His second coming would be children betraying their parents, and members of your own household being your enemies. Your family members would be willing to deliver you up to death for refusing to deny your faith in your Lord, and for refusing to accept and embrace their lifestyles that displease Jesus Christ.

Billy and Franklin Graham both believe that the end of time is upon us, with the lack of morals in our government leaders.

Our nation is spiritually bankrupt, making many willing to embrace sins that God detests. We have become so educated, that we have bypassed the prayer room for the fame of statesmanship. We have stopped preaching against sin, to be popular and accepted by all. We have stopped speaking the Word of God with a convicted heart, to be able to entertain and open the wallets and purses. Preachers are no longer unavailable due to taking time to pray and fast, but instead are busy with all manner of social media to increase their following.

ISIS coming to America

What will happen when ISIS comes to America and Europe? Will the immigrants, that are flooding our borders, soon outnumber those who believe in Christ as the one true God, then demand that we convert to Islam or die? Will you be able to smile as you face the sword swinging down onto your neck, and say, “Father, forgive them.” “I see Jesus ready to receive my spirit!”

A personal relationship with God – that He relates to us, and we relate to Him

We have to get back to a personal relationship with God, where we relate to Him and He relates to us – because we do those things that are pleasing in His sight. We don’t need more head knowledge. We don’t need more eloquent sermons. We don’t need bigger church buildings. What we need is a heart-to-heart experience with God, so that God can empower us in the face of adversity and death – to smile.

James said the man who endures temptation shall receive a ‘Crown of Life’, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)

The only way we will be able to endure the coming tribulation, is by having a personal relationship with Christ. We will have to be able to relate to Him, and He will have to be able to relate to us, heart-to-heart, before we will be able to smile as we see Him ready to receive our spirit, as we forgive those who deliver us up to death.

Do you have that relationship with Him? Church buildings will come and go. Denominations will splinter and divide. Only Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Just as Paul said that not all Jews are true Jews, so not all Christians are true Christians, no matter what they label themselves. God always has those who love Him more than doctrines, more than denominations, more than organizations, and more than family members.

Jesus said if you love your father or mother more than me you are not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37) He also said the one who does the will of His Father is His true brother, sister and mother. (Matthew 12:50)

ISIS may have severed earthly relationships with their swords, but they, nor any other demonic force, can separate a personal heart-to-heart relationship with Jesus Christ! (Romans 8:38-39)

 

all is left is God

 

 

 

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