Voice of the Lord's Martyrs

Are you a Martyr?

Speaking to His apostles, our Lord said;

Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Did you know the word for "witness" in the Greek is "martyr"? It is the Greek word #3144, "martus." What He is really saying is, "I want you to be martyrs."

The word "martyr" means "witness." How did we come to feel that the word martyr means killed? Because a lot of believers, down through history have been killed for their witness about Jesus.

On the replacement of Judas after his suicide (not martyrdom):

Acts 1:21-22, "Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that He was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection."

The word "witness" above is "martyr." We need a martyr to replace Judas.

2 Corinthians 13:1, "This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."

This is not a new command given by Paul; this was quoted from Deuteronomy 19:15. You will notice that the apostles went out two by two in the first century. Why? Because they were giving a witness, a testimony of the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And it was necessary that it was established in the mouth of two or three witnesses, so they went out by two! And when you have eleven apostles, somebody wouldn't have a partner.

Matthew 18:15-16, "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established."

So, those who are being true witnesses today, are truly martyrs! A martyr is simply a witness. All are martyrs. Some witness that they are of the world, and die with the world. And then there is the remnant who witness that they are of the Christ, and die with the Christ. They are as their Master, being in the world but not of it.

Their Voice

And the Lord's martyrs cry out: It takes only one bad thread, only one, to ruin an entire fabric, to destroy an entire cloth. The natural man weaves his presumed authority into God's, and the result is a corrupted Church.

And today the Church asks: Is that possible?
And the Lord's martyrs cry out: That's the truth of baptism. Leaving the kingdom of the world, and joining the Kingdom of God. A baptism of choice signals that you break with the world in matters of faith. When the use of the carnal sword and its worldly power is accepted, corruption is invited within.

And today the Church asks: How can we avoid that?
And the Lord's martyrs cry out: By joining the assembled ones, separate from the power of the carnal sword, and partake of the sword of the Spirit only. The apostles had no duke, no prince, no king—save the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus the Christ.

And today the Church asks: What guarantee can you offer a woman who wants safety for her children? What guarantee can you offer a man for his family?
And the Lord's martyrs cry out: Faith. Only faith. We fear for those in prison. We weep for those who have died, and will die, for the cause of Christ. But we fear even more the consequences of compromise. For if you allow the power of this world to be threaded into the fabric of the Christ's ekklesia, the results have been, and will be, seen: compassion turns to pride; charity to greed; truth becomes fabrication; salvation citizenship; peace oppression. And faith in Almighty God becomes faith in pastors, popes, princes and kings. You must not imitate the world, but Christ in all things—even if you are called to the gallows or the grave. If you deceive yourselves now, the price will be eternal. We all have one Lord, Christ Jesus. And He is all we have ever needed.

And today the Church asks: Do you deny the authority of the pope?
And the Lord's martyrs cry out: God's Word denies his authority. Oaths and vows are made by the natural man, marriage comes from God. You must stand separate from the world in matters of faith.

And today the Church asks: But don't the scriptures say to render unto Caesar?
And the Lord's martyrs cry out: And so you shall to that which you accept as being Caesar's! But you must not accept Caesar's protection, and you must take no oaths of loyalty to any government. You must acknowledge no authority over the office of the Christ and His ekklesia, except that which is of the Father.

And today the Church asks: The infidel seeks to destroy the Christ's ekklesia and their delegated authority. What resistance can you offer that would be consistent with your beliefs?
And the Lord's martyrs cry out: We ourselves could offer nothing but the Truth, for we know that The Word is our Sword, and He does, and did, save us.

And today the Church asks: Did they not butcher you?
And the Lord's martyrs cry out: Jesus Christ Himself was butchered. If our Lord endured persecution and death for the Father's sake, how could we have sought to avoid it for ourselves, and how can you?

And today the Church asks: If we may not slay our enemies ourselves, may we accept protection if it's offered?
And the Lord's martyrs cry out: If you accept a prince's force, you accept his authority. Many look to the favor of rulers, but justice comes to a man from the Lord. Our protection and authority is Christ, the Prince of Peace!

And today the Church asks: Did not Christ Himself use force to scourge the temple?
And the Lord's martyrs cry out: Yes, but not with a carnal sword. The enemies of Christ wielding the sword do so out of ignorance and have not heard the Truth. But one who has pledged to Christ, when he picks up that same sword—he marks with a stain the very faith he claims to follow.

And today the Church asks: Does one not defend the faith when he wields the sword in the name of Christ?
And the Lord's martyrs cry out: No! For it is better to fight along side a genuine enemy than a hypocrite churchgoer who uses that sword in false service to Christ. The strength of the Church is found within the office of the Christ and His called-out ones—His ekklesia—not without.

And today the Church asks: But what about our freedom?
And the Lord's martyrs cry out: You are to understand freedom as an internal state, not an external one. You are to reject the carnal sword as outside the perfection of Christ—to separate yourselves so that good and evil, believing and unbelieving, light and darkness, the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world—none will have part with the other. It is not enough that we say farewell in simple agreement, or disagreement. You must all go forth fully committed to the course that the Lord Himself has set for us, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loves us. Carnal warfare is a poor way to represent a Church which claims to have been founded on suffering and love.

Conclusion

Job 26:2-4, "To whom dost thou attach thyself, or whom art thou going to assist? is it not He that has strength, and He who has a strong arm? To whom hast thou given counsel? is it not to Him who has all Wisdom? whom wilt thou follow? is it not the One Who has the greatest power? To Whom hast thou uttered words? and Whose breath is it that has come forth from thee?"

You, as we have, must go out as sheep amidst wolves (Matthew 10:16), as lambs to the slaughter.

How say you?