IS MARTYRDOM THE PLAN AND WILL OF GOD FOR SOME
Thursday – March 19, 2026
Video link: https://youtu.be/mpUksWSpSs0
Greetings dear children of Father God and all others who are joining today. Welcome to this ongoing and nearly complete study of the Bible Book of James. I see this as a very instructive to the point Bible Book. Let’s us all be sure that we have come with ears to hear and eyes to see. Jesus spoke of this often.
Matthew 11:15 (KJV)
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
The hearing here is not just being aware of the sound or even cataloging information, it has to do with coming to understand and it is implied then to do. If we haven’t come to understand and do then reading or watching this video it is no more than an empty religious exercise. Now, let’s go to our primary Bible text for today.
James 5:10-11 (NIV)
10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
If you have read through the Bible, you know that some of the Prophets of God suffered terrible things. The following passages are but two examples from the Old Testament.
Jeremiah 20:1-2 (NIV)
1 When the priest Pashhur son of Immer, the chief officer in the temple of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things,
2 he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the LORD’s temple.
2 Chronicles 24:20-21 (NIV)
20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the LORD’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.'”
21 But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD’s temple.
Were these things the will and plan of God for these two men and all the others recorded in Scripture? The answer to that is a study for another time but it seems to me that the answer is that it was neither the will nor plan of God. These men were indeed patient. We see the same thing in the New Testament. First let’s look at the stoning of Stephen to which Saul, later the Apostle Paul consented too.
Acts 7:52-60 (NIV)
52 Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him–
53 you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”
54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.
55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,
58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Then there is the stoning of the Apostle Paul.
Acts 14:19-20 (NIV)
19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.
20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
These are not exceptions; it is reported in Church history that all of the original twelve (many since) died violent deaths with the exception of John. They tried to boil him in oil, but he was like the three Hebrew children in the fire. There is no question that all of these were patient and did not take their eye off the call of God. I don’t think there is any question that the Grace of God was upon these people enabling them through the good, the bad, and the ugly. So, let me ask. Does God single out certain individuals for hardships even to be killed for the cause of the Kingdom? Does God protect some not others. Is God just? Just where does it tell that it is the plan and will of God for some to die physically for the Gospel, for the Lord? the Scripture says that there will be poor (financially) people among, and that some people serving the Lord will be killed but it never says that was the plan or will of God.
TAKE HOME:
- Many down through time have suffered and died in the service of God.
- These people have exhibited supernatural patience and there is no doubt that Grace was powerful at work in their lives.
- What does it say about God when His children, His servants are killed in His service? What does it say about the one abused and killed?
Lord willing, I will resume right here tomorrow.
Remember that all physical manifestations in this material world have a spiritual root.
Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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