The Marks Of A Martyr

Do you find this as amazing as I do. How is it that he can forgive the very men who are murdering him? Do you think it has anything to do with the words that Jesus said from his cross; "Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing?" I do. I believe that men and women of faith - men and women who know and love Jesus Christ and are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for him – they have the same Spirit the he had.

I hear the story of the martyrs in Bolivia and I wonder why the friends of these men would return to this area. Not only return, but love these people and witness to them and forgive them for their sins – for the murders. Then I realize, it is the Spirit of God working in and through them, just as he worked in and through Stephen and just as he will work in and through me if I allow Him to.

Let’s go back to the first two marks of a martyr for a moment. What were they?

The first mark of a martyr is a person who has died to Christ long before he dies for Christ.

The second mark of a martyr is a person who willingly defends his faith to the end.

Now, think about the third mark – the Spirit of forgiveness. As men and women who have given ourselves to God as living sacrifices, shouldn’t we also have the third mark of a martyr? Shouldn’t we have the Spirit of forgiveness?

You give your life to Christ one dollar (one day) at a time. But, there seems to be little or no recognition. No one seems to appreciate your efforts. Ask yourself - why do I do it? Is it for the recognition, or is it for the glory of God? If it is the latter, then we must be able to forgive and move on.

Jesus said to store up your treasures in heaven, where moth and thieves will not be able to destroy it. If we give ourselves to God one dollar - one day at a time, then our treasure chest in heaven will be filled with glorious rewards. It is like an eternal savings account. The question is, how large is my account?

I close this morning by asking you to evaluate your own account. Do you have the marks of a martyr?

1. Have you died to Christ? Have you given him your very life? Are you willing to spend it for his glory one dollar at a time as easily as you are willing to give it all at once?

2. Are you willing to give your life to the spread of the gospel? That doesn’t mean that you have to go to the jungles of Africa or Bolivia as a missionary - but are you ready to take the risk to share you faith with others?

3. Are you willing to forgive rejection, ridicule and persecution? These are the marks of a martyr. They were the marks that set Stephen apart. They are the marks that set Dave Yarwood and Bruce Porterfield apart. In fact, they are the marks that the Lord Jesus Christ himself displayed on Calvary. It is my belief that they are the marks of a true disciple. May it be so in each of our lives.