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Friday, May 30, 2025
"Bitterman"
Note:
Today's
title is a
name (similar
to Antipas and
Bonhoeffer in
the two
previous
messages).
It's not about
a bitter man!
Message summary: The apostle Paul's perspective on life and death is so liberating!
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
I
have attained
the age of
Εβδομήντα and
Brooksyne will
reach it this
year. (that's
threescore and
ten)*ą. We've
lived a
peaceful life
in regard to
persecution
and certainly
have not been
martyred. We
were talking
about this and
realize we do
not personally
know anyone
who has been
martyred for
their faith.
The most
suffering I've
had is some
sheep bites.
Earlier
this week we
mentioned
Dennis, a
longtime
missionary to
Nigeria where
believers have
faced intense
persecution
for many years
from radical
Islamists.
A
staggering
52,000
Christians
have been
killed since
2009, and
18,000
churches set
on fire.*˛
Dennis taught
at a seminary
in the central
part of the
country and
surely taught
those who
would later be
persecuted and
martyred.
We
often pray for
and speak of
our spiritual
brothers and
sisters who
are suffering
in persecution
with some
becoming
martyrs for
Christ. Let's
consider one
today.
Craig
Bitterman is a
friend of ours
who attends
our Crossroads
ABF class
(Sunday
School). He
owns a scale
company and
several years
ago gave me a
tour.
His older brother Chet Bitterman was my age and was raised here in Lancaster County in the same church we now attend, Calvary Church. Like Brooksyne and I, he prepared for ministry in a Bible College (Columbia Bible College in South Carolina). He was called to work with Wycliffe Bible Translators and moved with his wife and two children to Columbia in 1979. In early 1981 he was kidnapped and later murdered by M-19 guerrillas.
I
first heard
about his
story in the
early eighties
long, long
before I ever
even thought
about residing
in Lancaster
County, let
alone, that we
would attend
the same
church as
Chet. We link
to his story
below.*ł
Chet prayed, "Lord, the tribe that's the most remote, the most difficult to reach because of location and culture, the tribe no one else might select because of those reasons, Lord, if it's okay with you, that's my tribe".
And yet Paul also had the perspective, "to die is gain". The word translated "gain" has the sense of advantage. In fact a few verses later Paul says, "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far" (Philippians 1:23).
Several years later Paul wrote his final letter to Timothy with this awareness; "The time has come for my departure" (2 Timothy 4:6). What solid resignation I see in these words as he faced the martyr's death and made this proclamation, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).
Today, what a joy it is to follow Christ and have a deep, abiding assurance of His love. When the time comes for our departure, whether by natural death, an accident or martyrdom, we will exchange our frail, aging, mortal body for an imperishable one. We also have an address change as we are removed from this world that is day by day sliding into increasing decadence and destruction.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, as I
live out my
time here on
this earth,
I'm so glad
that I belong
to You. You
hold my right
hand and guide
me with Your
continuous
presence and
daily bread
which is
leading me to
a glorious
destiny. Whom
have I in
heaven but You
and I desire
You more than
anything on
earth. My
health may
fail and my
spirit may
even grow
weak, but
Father, You
remain the
strength of my
heart and You
are my portion
forever. My
Refuge, my
Fortress and
my Deliverer,
I will
joyfully tell
of Your mighty
works as I
seek to finish
well until You
call me to my
eternal home.
Amen.
*ą
That would be
70 years!
*˛ An Upsurge of Terror in Nigeria – Part I (Part 2) These articles are very interesting. The second demonstrates the lies and deception of the "religion of peace" (as Islam is often characterized).
*ł
Stories
of Christian
Martyrs:
Chester A.
“Chet”
Bitterman III
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"My Labour is Not in Vain" Watch on YouTube CityAlight Dedicated especially to those who serve in hard places and experience persecution.
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Stephen & Brooksyne
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