In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of studying God's word and allowing God to speak to us through it. He encourages listeners to stay close to God and pray, and to make clear decisions about their actions. The preacher also mentions a story of a person who left and testified about the consequences of not following God's word. He warns about the devil's influence on earth and his desire to keep people from experiencing God's peace and joy. The preacher concludes by highlighting the role of prophets and messengers in delivering God's word to people.

We will read our text for today. From Matthew 23 and from verse 34. Therefore indeed I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify. And some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city. That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth. From the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly I say to you all these things will come upon this generation. Jerusalem, Jerusalem. You are the city of the prophets, the city of the wise men, the city of the wise men. Jerusalem, Jerusalem. The one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. See your house is left to you desolate. For I say to you, you shall see me no more till you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Now let's turn back to our text. Therefore indeed I send you prophets, wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city. I can't understand this, we've just recently celebrated Christmas, where we remembered how the heavenly hosts came down and announced the great and good news about the birth of the child. The gospel, that in itself means good news. And the good news is for everyone. The angel said that this news, this message is for everyone. But the tragedy, in spite of that, is that the child was hardly born and there were many, many children that were already killed in Bethlehem, where Herod sent his soldiers to kill all the small children. Now here the Lord says, indeed I send you prophets, wise men and scribes. Therefore indeed I send you prophets, wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city. Is such a thing possible? How is such a thing possible? These people who actually are the ones, the messengers who bring the good news, these glad tidings for all people and yet some of them are killed and crucified. But it's because of the devil, who is the one that rules this earth in so many ways, it's because of him that this happens. And he comes through pride, he brings pride into people's hearts and that's why they cannot rejoice about the gospel. Look at our Lord himself, what had he done wrong? He had done absolutely nothing wrong, yet they mocked him, they beat him, they eventually crucified him. And he said, at that time already, if they do that to me, they'll do it to you as well. And he says, look, behold I send you prophets. A prophet is one who proclaims God's message, he takes the words as it were from God's mouth and he passes them on to the people. Nowadays people just glibly refer to people and to themselves as prophets. Like someone, a witch doctor who got converted came to the Lord. Now when she got converted, this witch, they said, well it's good that you get converted but don't lose the spirit of fortune telling or being able to predict things because now you can just transform that spirit into one of prophecy, so you can now become a prophet using that same gift that you had or talent. But it doesn't work like that because if that spirit remains, that's a spirit from below, a spirit of lies, that's not prophecy. A prophet is one who preaches the gospel, he brings the message of God as it is in truth. And he says, look, behold I send you prophets. Now in exceptional circumstances, God can reveal future events to his children. But normally a prophet is one who takes God's words and he conveys it to the people. He preaches to the people and he speaks to them about sin, that they are convicted about their sinful state so that they may repent. He also preaches about God's grace and he speaks of eternal life that we receive through our Lord Jesus Christ. He also speaks of death and condemnation. That is for those who harden their hearts, who aren't prepared to change their ways and turn to the truth. Just look in the Old Testament how the prophets were persecuted and many of them were imprisoned and killed. In fact the Lord Jesus says, there was hardly a prophet which you did not kill. And the Lord spoke to the scribes and the pharisees and he said, you yourself say, had you lived in the time of the prophets, you would not have persecuted and killed the prophets as your fathers had done. He says, but the very words you are saying are condemning you because you are even referring to them as your fathers. Much blood was shed by those people who stood for the truth and the truth of heaven. And the Lord said, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah. Abel was the first one who was martyred for his faith. His blood was shed and so was the blood of Zechariah. Now we don't even know who Zechariah was, even though it does refer to whose son he was, but we don't know his story. But it could be, and probably he was the last one to be martyred for his faith in the Old Testament. So from the first one being Abel right through to his time being the last one. Now the prophets were persecuted and killed because they spoke what the people didn't want to hear. They spoke what God wanted them to say, not what the people wanted to hear. Now the Lord Jesus says, behold I sent you the prophets and the wise men. They are referred to as wise men. Why were they wise? Now their wisdom was not the wisdom of demons, like so many who claim to be clever and to know it all. But what they know, they just learn from the demons. The devil teaches them that wisdom. And with that wisdom, that clever trait, you won't get into heaven even if you can debate as well and better than anyone else. And with your own wisdom, you will never get into heaven either. But these people were referred to as wise men because they took God's word and applied it and kept it. And that led to their salvation. And then they lived according to the Bible. Now in heaven, such people are referred to as wise men. And once they have received that it's worked in their lives, they've received salvation. Then after that, they will pass it on to others. Because you cannot be referred to as wise when you claim to have received salvation, but then you don't pass it on to others so that they too may receive that salvation. How can you be wise when you see the whole world heading to condemnation and to damnation, into a lost eternity, but you don't warn them, you don't stop them. Now those are the prophets. And I hope you understand and differentiate between those that are prophets and those that are just fortune tellers and they tell people all sorts of stories. That's something else, that's got nothing to do with Christianity. They are humble people who accept God's word like a little child would. And the Lord Jesus said, if you don't believe like a little child, you won't see the kingdom of heaven. You know like a little child, you tell a child something, it doesn't question, it doesn't reason and argue with you, it just accepts it. It doesn't argue with you and go against it. And in that way we accept what God speaks to us, which proceeds from His mouth. And then it speaks about the scribes as well. Now it doesn't here refer to the scribes that were together with the Pharisees and the Sadducees at that time when the Lord was on the earth. But these are the true scribes who studied God's word daily. And as they studied God's word, God spoke to them. That you cling to God's word. Some people don't like that. I spoke to Sipo Zondi over the phone. And he says yesterday they had a wonderful funeral. And he says yesterday they had a wonderful funeral. After the funeral some men came and they were weeping. And they confessed their sin and they said we want to make right with God. Because we have been going against God. We had heard things and we ourselves were spreading lies about the Lord and His work. And we want to repent today. And they said among the things that had put us off Christianity is that we said the Christian women, they show absolutely no respect for the husbands anymore. And that's why we wanted nothing to do with Christianity. And another man said I am going to give a phantom. And said I am going to give my child the beating of its life now. Because it just doesn't want to do what I tell it regarding all our old ways and our ancestral worship etc. And I am going to give it a beating of its lifetime. Now that's all because of the devil who rules here on earth. The devil doesn't want you to be set free. He doesn't want you to experience God's peace and His joy. He doesn't want you in heaven. He wants you in hell. I remember when we got converted we also met up with many things. I remember when we got converted we also met up with many things. I remember how when I got converted my best friends I suddenly noticed how they were flirting with girls and kissing girls and sticking their heads out the window when they were driving in a car. And seeing the way they acted with the girls I thought I cannot associate with such friends. And I had to cut that cord. And we were the laughing stock of the people at that time. But today it's those people who have the problems. But today it's those people who have the problems. They were with girls. They were always in their company and around there where the girls were. Even though God's word said you must flee the lusts of the youth. But they weren't fleeing them. In fact they were getting close to them. And you know what it's like. You play with fire and you go with the boys. What do they do? They get you pregnant and then they drop you. And nowadays it's not just leaving you with a child. They'll even leave you with AIDS. And he speaks to the people in the Old Testament and about them and how they were persecuted. But he also said that even in the New Testament he said don't worry if people speak all manner of evil over you. For as long as there's rejoicing in heaven then you can be happy and rejoice too. And if you look even in New Testament times how many of them suffered and were persecuted. Think of Paul who actually did so much to spread the gospel. Helping so many people in need. Those that were sick and possessed. They just took his handkerchiefs, laid them on people, they were healed. Such wonderful things. But there were those who hated it. And they persecuted him. And eventually Nero killed him. Actually I said the Nero's. But Nero was one of them. Even Peter, he was crucified for his faith. But when they crucified him he said I cannot have the privilege of dying like my Lord did. He said rather crucify me upside down. I cannot die in the same way as my Lord did. It was beheaded. Some were sawn up into pieces. And the Lord had warned them about these things. And then the Lord said that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth. From the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah. I don't know whether you've taken note and whether you were paying attention. That the Lord says that if you do not accept the gospel and the good news and accept it. Then the righteous blood of all those people. All those that were martyred. All that blood will come upon you. And you will drown in that blood. And if you bring that blood upon your own head. It means in fact that you are the one that killed and murdered him. Now you may remember from school where you learned about Lady Macbeth. Who murdered her husband. When she stabbed him that blood spilt onto her. And so she was covered in the blood of her husband. And so she went around. She went off her head so to say. Going around saying who can cleanse me of this blood that is on me. And so it is with those who reject the prophets, the wise men, the scribes. Those who come with God's message. You're not just rejecting that one person. But all those people, the prophets. That blood will come upon your own head. And you will have to burn in hell for all eternity because of that guilt. Remember the two criminals. One of them got converted. The other one didn't. And the one that got converted spoke to the other one. And tried to encourage him to get converted too. But he didn't accept it. He said no. I don't accept it yet. I'm not ready for that yet. Like someone here down the Tugela Valley at Makoko. He got up in front of everyone and said look. I'm not ready yet to become a Christian. It's not for me yet. Because the problem is my pockets. All of my pockets are full of sin. And that's why I cannot accept the gospel yet. You see that's what stops you becoming a Christian. It's all these sins in your pockets. And this man's brother often was approached by his brother. Saying my brother accept the gospel. Get converted. Change your ways. Because when he got home he always noticed he had been smoking and drinking. Using drugs. And he knew that he had been with the girls. And he pleaded with them to get converted. While the Christian was at home reading his Bible. Busy with God's word and praying. The brother would go out and go with a gang. And get up to what they were doing. And so one night as he was at home reading his Bible. Suddenly someone burst into the room. And he was covered in blood. And when he looked it was his brother. Now what had happened. He had gone out with a gang. They had been drinking. Using drugs. And like it is then. When people believe they've got the supernatural power. And they think they can do things they couldn't do before. Just on that. These days Busy told us something that happened at Claridge near Meritsburg. We've got an outstation there. And the railway line passes just on the border of our property there. Now there are people living close by. And when they go from one side to the other they actually go across our land there. Now these two were actually walking along and got to the railway line. Now there are two turns on the railway line. Corners. And so you can't see the train at first. You can only hear the sound of it approaching. So they heard the train coming. And it gave a warning. Now these two. It was a couple. Husband and wife. Were on the railway line at the time. And it's bad enough when a man is an alcoholic and gets drunk. But when a woman does it. It's just so terrible. Now when they heard the train coming. The man stood on the railway line. So there he was standing on the track. And he could hardly keep his balance. He was swaying from one side to the other. Almost falling forwards and almost falling backwards. And then the whistle blew the second time. And other people came when they saw what was happening. They dragged him off the railway track. Now before they dragged him off the railway track. He was standing there swaying backwards and forwards. Almost unable to stand. But saying to the train. Saying I, I say to you train stop. You see how much courage you have. And power you get when you drink. You think you can stop a train. And he said again. He said I, I say to you stop. And they grabbed hold of him. Pulled him to the side. Because the train was quite close by that time. But he just wanted to know nothing of it. They dragged him off. He went back again. And he said again. I say to you train stop. He said again. And he said again. And they dragged him off the train. And they grabbed hold of him. And he said to them. Please stop. That is how much courage they had. Very good. Now after this. They dragged him off the train. And then he was saying again. I say to you train stop. I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm And so he just kept on as they tried to pull him aside he just went back again and you know with the train it's not just the locomotive there are many coaches and it's pulling a heavy load it can't stop so quickly and so as he was standing there because they couldn't get him off the track anymore there was no time and he's still saying to you train I say because I say you stop as he was saying that the train hit him and it ground him to mincemeat they say that his the pieces of his body were found all over the police didn't even want to pick up the pieces because they didn't know what to pick up anymore but there are many people who treat God in that way who dictate to God what they think he should do it because they have spoken they think God must change his mind Remember God is far bigger than just a train but that's what happened to this man and the the wife went home and by the next morning she was sober and suddenly it dawned on her what had happened they say she picked her bags and she's just disappeared she's nowhere to be found and the Lord Jesus says Jerusalem Jerusalem Oh Jerusalem the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her those stones what are they they your words which you speak and you stone those people you kill them by what you say so how often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings but you were not willing Jerusalem Jerusalem Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem and how many aren't there who do the same today even so-called children of the Lord they will go against the Lord and what he is doing and God says your house will remain in ruins become a desolation Oh Jesus well he see her Oh Musa noble Bailey exam oka oka in Jerusalem jenny's cuckoo gossip she's a mooka oka he amazing an ass I'm getting a pants come up he goes what and woman and the Lord Jesus because he's so gentle and kind full of grace and mercy he tries like a hen gather together the chicks trying to gather the the children together but he says but you were not willing go go bang it again he means we ain't new is he Salah Nani not so we in Ghana Zachal Zachary Tega the fellow boom yamini yes I got a gargoyle Ghani Nova of umanga which is a quibble more anguilla gota it was and he says see your house is left to you desolate it's in ruins everything is lost and he says why because when I try to gather you you were not willing you didn't want to I could be at and I can be born is a need to see where Ozai coming and he continues he says for I say to you you shall see me no more till you say blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord if you quench the Holy Spirit trample what he says underfoot you will not see the Lord Jesus until you say blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord that's God's grace his door is still wide open he's still inviting you to change your ways your standing there saying I say this is what I claim this is what I say I say to you God stop remember God is far greater than a train but today you can hear the whistle of the train he's warning you that he is coming maybe there are others who are trying to save you they grabbing you and trying to pull you out of danger but to you they seem to be a nuisance you just say are but they're not kind to me and they so rough with me and and that's you don't accept what they want to say you go ahead with your hard-headedness so we don't know someone who dies like that ends up in hell burning in the flames of hell just imagine it and for all eternity but maybe it leaves us cold it doesn't touch us is like O'Shane said you hear it but it doesn't touch like this little child we spoke about to fell into that pot of porridge and got burned so badly and porridge sticks to you and yet hell is much worse and that fire is not quenched and the worm doesn't die either in fact you yourself will be like a worm wriggling there for all eternity with no hope of ever getting out but may today be the day where you come to your senses where you repent that this 10th of January 2010 will be the day where you turn to the Lord and this little child said oh mother if you can just bring me a bit of water just to wet my lips because I'm suffering I'm so thirsty but hell is much worse than that I wish you could hear the people in hell crying out maybe if you don't hear my sermon you'd hear that and you'd repent because of his wise men he sends his messengers to you to bring you his word but you say now I'm not going to listen to a man speaking to me I want God himself he must come and talk to me all the time he is talking to you he's speaking through these people to you let us bow our heads kooloo kooloo Tina's Bonita is born in Google go to anybody to see our God we just see the dress and the tie the outer clothing but you see the heart Tina's bono upon the one who Bono Napa we see what's outside but you see what's inside we have born a song KC Lapa we are born a low on inches yep I'm shopping it's time to gill nah yeah oh my nice is your chance again you see us all and you see our hearts in the state of our hearts you see the one who's got a cleansed heart but you also see the one whose hearts not cleansed we are born a low oh my god I'm cool oh my god I'm gonna know oh my god I got satan you see the one who is the child of God but you also see the one who is still a child of the devil yeah Kayla Lulu sugooloo Nabi is a lazy no Shumaila ways we lock with no kooloo my walk oh oh my god Pindu got pinned when I'm such oh my god in the gay line again oh my god Lali Lali Lord may this day and this message not be in vain but may the one who hasn't repented may repent the one who's been disobedient to you may he become obedient today now Lord may your grace Lord Jesus be with us all and where sin abounds may your grace abound much more amen