Lord’s Day, Vol. 14 No. 43
The Martyrs’ Courage – Strength Made Perfect In Weakness
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
The Apostle Paul testified, “Most gladly will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Having an acute sense of his weakness, and thus leaning upon and expecting help from his Lord and Saviour to strengthen him. Indeed, the believer experiences and enjoys the strength that the Lord imparts in the sorest trials and most distressing seasons of life.
Never was Abraham so strong as when he was at Mount Moriah when Isaac was offered up. Never were the martyrs so courageous as when imprisoned, about to be brought to the stake of sacrifice, and totally helpless in the hands of their incarcerators. In those moments of trial, they offered their ardent prayers to the Lord Jesus for strength, resting on the faithfulness and love of God. These martyrs of the Christian faith crying for strength as they were hurled to the stake. He increaseth strength to the weak and giveth power to the faint. They experienced His sufficient grace in those times of weakness and helplessness.
It is there at the depths of trial that the words of the psalmist echo in their hearts, undergirding them to hold on to divine promises, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1) and to hold fast to the faith, come what may to rest in the truth of Scripture and not compromise – Luke 21:15 (KJV) For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
This was the testimony of the martyrs throughout the history of the church and especially during the 16th Century Protestant Reformation where the gospel in its purity was once again preached with apostolic unction and with apostolic results. William Tyndale, who translated a large portion of the Bible into English from the original language was strangled and then burned at the stake on 6 October 1536.
Dearly beloved, God is ever faithful throughout history to preserve the church in the truth of His Word. This was especially so, on 31 October 1517, when Martin Luther courageously exposed the corruption of the Roman Church, sparking the Protestant Reformation. Protestantism is Biblical Christianity, the faith that was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 4) as opposed to the tenets of Rome in the Dark Ages and even today. Amen.