@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Area 1, Garki - Abuja
4th October, 2015
☆ SERMON
* Speaker: Pastor Victor Amos
* Topic: The Blood of the Martyrs
* Theme: Growing up in Christ
* Sub-Theme: Wholistic Growth
* Service Leader: Mr. Japheth Chrysantus
* Text: Revelation 6:9-11; John 16:31-33
* WhoIistic growth is growth in Christ that is all-encompassing
* Eschatology deals with the study of future events that are recorded in the Scriptures (eg: the Book of Revelation)
* A martyr is a person who is killed because of his/her beliefs
→ the first martyr in the New Testament is Stephen (See Acts 7:54-60)
→ On a daily basis, people are dying due to the worsening state of security in the world. Many more are dying out of persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ
* Persecution is to treat a person in a cruel or unfair manner because of their race or beliefs etc
→ Persecution is not only from outside the Church but also inside the Church! (Many faithful Christians were persecuted and Killed by Church authorities in the past, eg, John Wyclilfe (for translating the Bible into English) and John Hus
* John the Apostle who authored the book of Revelation was a direct victim of extreem persecution and later became a martyr.
→ He was exiled to the island of Patmos where criminals and outcasts were barnished and left to die
→ Revelation 1:9
☆ Lessons to learn:
1. God will avenge the blood of all those who are martyred because of Him
→ We should comfort ourselves because God will avenge us in due course
2. Anyone who dies in Christ will have power over the second death
* Sometimes, simply bearing a Christian name is enough reason to attract persecution
* What are you being persecuted for?
* Are people comfortable to commit sin around you?
* What is your essence of following Christ?
* Our persecutors have God to contend with
★ Acts 9:4-5 →" He dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The voice said, “I’m Jesus, whom you are persecuting."
* NOTE: The Church is Christ himself, not the physical building that we see
→ Anything done to the Church (true believers in Christ) is personally felt by Jesus
* The last Judgement will be a blessing for Children of God, but for those who antagonise Christ and His people, It will be a dreadful experience
* Do not take vengeance against those who hate you because you believe in Jesus
* Some famous Christian Martyrs
→ John Wycliffe
→ John Hus
→ Polycarp
* Be strong and focussed in your faith, regardless of persecution and opposition
* This is not the time to abide in division in the Church and to advance other personal agenda, but to serve God faithfully and be alert
☆ MISSION CHARGE
"I profess and claim to be bythe grace of God a sound Christian and while there is breath in my body, I will speak forth and defend the law of it. I am ready to defend my convictions even unto death."
→ John Wycliffe
☆ QUOTE
"I desire to be as Balaam's ass. Because the prelates sit on me, wishing to force me to go against the command of God to stop preaching. I will press the feet of their desire and will not obey them, for the angel of the Lord stands before me in the way,"
→ John Hus
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