RPG Adults
DEATH OF HIS SAINTS
LORD’S DAY, JANUARY 24
Acts 12:1-2
John 11:25-26
“…he that believeth in me,
though he were dead,
yet shall he live…”
DEATH OF HIS SAINTS
King Herod Agrippa I entered into the scene in Luke’s second treatise. This was Satan’s way of sowing fear in the Christians. His aim was to stop the believers from preaching the Word. The death of Stephen may have imprinted fear in the minds of the believers, but James’ execution intensified the fear causing the Christians to faint.
Mistreated the church: King Agrippa violently moved his tyrannical cruelty against the church. This was with Satanic influence for the attack was specifically directed towards the church and not the Jews in general. The king’s evil character was used to cause harm and fear among the believers. There was one intention and that was to oppress the church in order to stop more people from turning to the Lord in repentance and faith. This is the devil’s ancient desire against the people of God.
Murdered an apostle: King Agrippa killed James, the brother of John, who was one of those in the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples. It was the devil’s intention to cause the people to doubt the power of the Lord Jesus to protect His dear disciple. How much more vulnerable the rest of the common believers would be? We have to understand that God permits a believer to be taken away once his mission on earth is accomplished and that was so for James.
Calvin’s comments on Psalm 116: “In these times, when innocent blood is shed, and the wicked contemners of God furiously exalt themselves, as if exulting over a vanquished God, let us hold fast by this doctrine, that the death of the faithful, which is so worthless, nay, even ignominious in the sight of men, is so valuable in God’s sight, that, even after their death, he stretches out his hand towards them, and by dreadful examples demonstrates how he holds in abhorrence the cruelty of those who unjustly persecute the good and simple.”
How do you view the deaths of believers at the hands of wicked ones? Let us trust in the providential hands of God!
THOUGHT: Am I ready to meet my Saviour face to face?
PRAYER: Father, glory be to Thy name for life everlasting.