Suffering and Deliverance (Part 9) - When God Doesn't Deliver His Children From Death

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I. Sometimes God doesn't deliver His children even from death. 1. The Lord does this for the following reasons: A. God is glorified in their death (Joh 21:19). B. In some cases the martyr is spared greater suffering that others must endure (Isa 57:1). C. The death of His saints is precious in God's sight (Psa 116:15; Rev 14:13). 2. Such examples are: A. Abel i. Abel was the first martyr. ii. Abel was a righteous prophet (Mat 23:35; Luk 11:50-51). iii. He made his offering by faith to God (Heb 11:4). iv. He was murdered for it and because of envy (Gen 4:8 c/w 1Jo 3:12). v. God didn't spare Abel's life even though he was righteous and did nothing to deserve death. B. Zechariah i. Zechariah was the last prophet in the Old Testament to be killed (Mat 23:35). ii. Zechariah was martyred because he condemned the people of Judah for their idolatry (2Ch 24:18-22). iii. Like Abel, he did nothing wrong, but God nevertheless allowed him to be martyred. C. John the Baptist i. John the Baptist was the first New Testament martyr. ii. He was the greatest prophet to ever live because he was the forerunner of the Messiah (Luk 7:26-28). iii. He rebuked the king because of his sin and was put in prison for it (Mat 14:3-4). iv. He was beheaded because of a foolish oath Herod made (Mat 14:6-10). v. John the Baptist was a great prophet and a faithful Christian who did nothing wrong, but God nevertheless allowed him to be martyred. D. Jesus Christ i. Of course the most important martyr of all is our Lord Jesus Christ. ii. He was sinless (1Pe 2:22) and had no legitimate crime or offence laid to His charge (Joh 8:46; Joh 18:38). iii. Convince v. - II. To convict, prove, demonstrate. 4. To prove (a person) to be guilty, or in the wrong, esp. by judicial procedure; to prove or find guilty; to convict of, rarely for, in (an offence or error); = convict v. iv. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners (Heb 7:26). v. He always did what pleased God (Joh 8:29). vi. He pleaded with God to spare Him the suffering and death that was awaiting Him (Luk 22:42). vii. They set up false witnesses against Him (Mar 14:55-59). viii. He was beaten (Mar 15:15), spit upon (Mar 15:19), mocked (Mar 15:20), humiliated, and crucified (Mar 15:25). ix. Despite doing nothing wrong, nevertheless God allowed Him to be martyred. E. Stephen i. Stephen was a good man and full of faith (Act 6:8). ii. He earnestly defended the faith and his wisdom was not able to be resisted (Act 6:10). iii. So his enemies suborned witnesses to falsely testify against him (Act 6:11-14). iv. He enraged them with his defense, so they stoned him (Act 7:54-60). v. Like the other martyrs before him he did nothing worthy of death, nevertheless God allowed him to be martyred. F. James i. James was an apostle (Mat 10:2) and one of Jesus' three closest friends (Mat 17:1; etc.). ii. He was killed by King Herod when he persecuted the church (Act 12:1-2). iii. Despite being an apostle and one of Jesus' closest friends and having done nothing wrong, God nevertheless allowed him to be martyred. G. Paul i. Paul was the chiefest of the apostles (2Co 11:5; 2Co 12:11; Rom 11:13). ii. He wrote half of the New Testament (Romans through Hebrews). iii. He made several evangelistic trips all over the known world and started numerous churches. iv. Notwithstanding all of the selfless work that he did for Jesus Christ, God still allowed him to be martyred (2Ti 4:6). H. Peter i. Peter was an apostle (Mat 10:2) and one of Jesus' three closest friends (Mat 17:1; etc.). ii. He boldly preached the gospel in the face of persecution (Act 4:18-21; Act 5:28-29; Act 5:40-42). iii. He was used of God to open the door of faith unto the Gentiles (Act 15:7). iv. Despite his great zeal and love for Jesus Christ and the fact that he did nothing to deserve death, God nevertheless allowed him to be martyred (Joh 21:18-19).