
Stairway to heaven
It is difficult to be a Christian today. We are overloaded with all forms of information related to our faith. Explanations that profess the get rich if you tide message, if your think positive and step out in faith God provides for all your needs or the “support our ministry and God will multiply that donation”, buy that prayer cloth or miracle water and you will be blessed. You think this is true? You really think that God is in the “You do something for me and I (God) do something bigger for you” Business. God does not work like that, and any one who preaches like this has to read the bible better. All but one Jesus disciples died a natural dead. Read……..
1) SIMON, GIVEN THE NAME PETER or CEPHAS, ‘THE ROCK’ – A FISHERMAN
Peter - He was crucified, head-down, at his own request. Later traditions claim that St. Peter’s in Rome was built over his grave.
2) ANDREW, BROTHER OF SIMON PETER – A FISHERMAN
Andrew – was crucified at Patras in Achaia. A later tradition describes him as being crucified in a spread-eagle position – hence the St. Andrew’s cross of Scotland.
3 JAMES, SON OF ZEBEDEE – A FISHERMAN
During the persecutions of Herod Agrippa I, King of the Jews, in c AD44, the apostle James was beheaded – ‘put to the sword’ (Acts 12:1-2 following). Before his death, James the Greater as he is known to distinguish him from James, son of Alphaeus, preached in Jerusalem and Judea, modern Israel.
4 JOHN, BROTHER OF JAMES and SON OF ZEBEDEE – A FISHERMAN
According to John’s Gospel (19:26-27), it was probably John who took Mary, the mother of Jesus as his adopted mother. He was banished to the nearby island of Patmos, now one of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. He was subsequently freed and died a natural death at Ephesus c AD100.
5 PHILIP
Philip preached the Gospel in Phrygia (west central Turkey) before dying or being martyred there at Hieropolis.
6 BARTHOLOMEW, also NATHANAEL
The missionary work of Bartholomew He met his death by being flayed or skinned alive, and then beheaded. He may have suffered this cruel fate in what is now India.
7 THOMAS DIDYMUS – ‘DOUBTING THOMAS’
Thomas was speared to death near Madras on the east coast. Mount St. Thomas, close to Madras is associated with his name.
8 MATTHEW, also LEVI – TAX-COLLECTOR/PUBLICAN
Nothing definite is known of Matthew’s career. After preaching in Judea, different traditions place his missionary work and possible martyrdom in Ethiopia or Persia.
9 JAMES, SON OF ALPHAEUS
Known as James the Less, He, and Jude following, should not be confused with James and Jude (or Judas), the brothers of Jesus. He first worked in Palestine (Israel) before preaching and martyrdom in Egypt.
10 JUDE, also THADDAEUS
Jude may have preached in Assyria (eastern Iraq) and Persia (Iran), before joining with Simon the Zealot and being killed with him in Persia.
11 SIMON THE ZEALOT or PATRIOT
Simon is referred to both as the “Cananaean” and the “Zealot”. One tradition is that he first preached in Egypt, before joining Jude and travelling to Persia, where both were martyred. Simon may have been crucified or hacked to death.
12 JUDAS ISCARIOT
And Judas flung down the silver in the Temple and went outside and hanged himself.
1.a MATTHIAS
As a disciple from the time of Jesus’ baptism through to his death and resurrection, and possibly one of the 72 sent out to preach and heal, Matthias was chosen by prayer and the drawing of lots to replace Judas Iscariot as the twelfth apostle. Preached and been martyred in Ethiopia
1.b PAUL OR SAUL OF TARSUS
Paul was executed around the year AD67.
All I learn from this is that we have a purpose, and the purpose is to talk about God and Jesus. How much we love Him and are not ashamed to talk about our faith. The disciples knew this and were not afraid of suffering. They did not end up in a castle with servants. They got the ultimate reward. Being in heaven with our Father God. We can not choose our departure of this planet. God gave us life and He will reclaim it in His time. We all have a purpose in this life and we need to fulfill this purpose, our destiny planned by God. God will provide all you need to accomplish your work on this planet. It is not for your personal use and if you do….. whooowww on you. To use Gods gift for you is stealing from God. All you gather financially or materially can only be used for His kingdom. You love God…. give away everything… let the chuch buy you food and clothes, bring you were you need to preach, but you have nothing. If you need a multi million dollar home, a mercedez, the shopping spree you brag about in your sermon, you have been paid already. You took your pay from God, Like Nero, Nepoleon crowned themselves. Welcome to your group of entiteled people, who have desided you earned it now. May God give you wisdom.