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Subject: The Voice of the Martyrs
Replies: 20 Views: 1050
n1ck 8.06.09 - 09:59pm
Hebrews 13:3
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. *
n1ck 8.06.09 - 10:05pm
There are more Christian martyrs today than there were in 100 AD - in the days of the Roman Empire. According to the World Christian Encyclopedia, there were close to 156 000 Christians martyred around the world in 1998. An estimated 200 000 will be martyred in 2009. *
n1ck 8.06.09 - 10:07pm
Their stories MUST be told. *
n1ck 8.06.09 - 10:12pm
The information in this topic is taken from the book Jesus Freaks, compiled by dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs. The book is a compilation of the true stories of those who stood for Jesus. Even if it cost them their lives.
If you only read one book this year (other than the Bible), make sure you read this one. *
n1ck 8.06.09 - 10:19pm
The Voice of the Martyrs is a non-profit, interdenominational organization dedicated to assisting the persecuted church worldwide. VOM was founded in 1967 by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who was imprisoned in communist Romania for 14 years for his faith in Jesus Christ.
Today, Tom White, the current director of VOM, spreads the message of the persecuted church and sends help to them through a network of regional offices.
VOM is located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and can be found at http://www.persecution.com
. *
n1ck 8.06.09 - 10:29pm
Dedicated to all those who refused to deny Jesus. Your faith was not in vain. *
n1ck 8.06.09 - 10:35pm
These true stories are not listed in any particular order. *
n1ck 8.06.09 - 10:39pm
The First Martyr
Stephen
Jerusalem, Israel
34 AD
Across the courtroom, the young man on trial continued preaching. The jury fidgeted nervously as he told of their religious heritage and forefathers. What did Abraham and Moses have to do with this Jesus? *
n1ck 8.06.09 - 10:41pm
Another young man in the audience, about the same age as the defendant, seemed not to be listening. His mind was already made up on the matter of this Jesus follower. The crowd of Jewish leaders, however, grew more and more agitated at every word from the young defendant. *
n1ck 8.06.09 - 10:44pm
Suddenly the preacher turned to the audience. You stubborn and hardheaded people! Youre always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just like your ancestors did. They killed the prophets who told about the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have turned against Him and killed Him. You have received the law of God, but you have not kept it. *
n1ck 8.06.09 - 10:47pm
When the crowd heard this, they were even more furious, but the defendant ignored their growing anger. His face glowed like that of an angel, and he stopped talking and pointed to the ceiling. Look! I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. *
n1ck 8.06.09 - 10:48pm
This was too much. Yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him. They dragged him out of the city to stone him. He continued preaching all the way. *
n1ck 8.06.09 - 10:52pm
The young man who had been in the audience, one Saul of Tarsus, followed after them. He stood a short distance away from the defendant, looking steadily at the sky as the mob grew larger. The cries grew more heated now. A man handed Saul his coat, then stooped to pick up a stone as though waiting for a signal from Saul. Saul lowered his gaze, then looked directly into the man's eyes and nodded. It was time to silence the young preacher. *
n1ck 11.06.09 - 07:31pm
Stephen, the defendant, continued despite the crowd's jeers, because the Man he was telling them about was so important to him. He couldn't stop talking about Him. Several more men had now removed their coats, handed them to Saul, and began gathering rocks, many of them so large that the men had to lift them with two hands. *
n1ck 11.06.09 - 07:37pm
The blasphemer must be dealt with!
He speaks against Moses!
We dont want to hear about your Jesus anymore!
A rock sailed past Stephen's head. He stopped speaking long enough to duck it, dazed for a moment, then stood to continue. The second rock caught him near his temple, and he fell to his knees. Another hit his shoulder. Them there were too many to count. *
n1ck 11.06.09 - 07:46pm
.No more Jesus talk!
Let this be a lesson to all who would proclaim this Jesus!
Another stone found its mark. Then another. He couldn't open his eyes for the sting of the blood. His clothes were torn by the blows and blood dripped freely from the tatters. He began to pray, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he scanned the crowd until his eyes locked with those of the young man who held a bundle of coats. And Lord, he continued, do not hold this sin against them.
When he said those words, Stephen died. *
n1ck 11.06.09 - 08:01pm
Slowly men gathered their coats from young Saul, who was soon alone with the body of the young preacher. Saul had come to Jerusalem to help silence this growing craze about Jesus of Nazareth. Despite his hatred, he could not shake the young man's words and how fearlessly he had faced death. *
n1ck 11.06.09 - 08:05pm
He stood staring at the body of the first martyr for Jesus. The glow that had so angered Saul was still on the young man's face. He had seen it as the smug pride of a heretic, but could it have been something else? He quenched the thought and turned away, more determined than ever to crush this Jesus movement. *
n1ck 11.06.09 - 08:14pm
Saul did not persecute men like Stephen for much longer. One day soon after, on his way to Damascus to imprison more Christians, he saw Jesus. From that encounter he later became Paul, the first Christian missionary, who travelled everywhere proclaiming the name of Jesus. He eventually wrote a good part of the New Testament. It started with a seed placed in his heart by a young man full of faith, grace and power. A man who could not stop telling people about Jesus, even if it meant his life. This is why it is said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church, and that is why God desires that the saints be martyred. *
n1ck 11.06.09 - 08:21pm
Like Gold in the Fire
Polycarp
Smyrna (now Izmar, Turkey)
168 AD
The kindly, old bishop entered the arena under armed guard. The stands were filled with an angry mob; their shouts filled the air. *
n1ck 11.06.09 - 08:22pm
to be continued. *
