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Born From His Side, Triple Engagement
Erlo Stegen

Erlo Hartwig Stegen (1935 - 2023). South African missionary and revivalist of German descent, born on Mbalane farm near Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, to Hermannsburg missionary descendants. Raised Lutheran, he left school after grade 10 to farm but felt called to ministry in 1952, evangelizing rural Zulus under apartheid. After 12 years of preaching with few lasting conversions, he experienced a transformative revival in 1966 at Maphumulo, marked by repentance and reported miracles. In 1970, he founded KwaSizabantu Mission (“place where people are helped”) in Kranskop, which grew into a self-sustaining hub with farms, a water bottling plant, and schools, serving thousands. Stegen authored Revival Among the Zulus and preached globally, establishing churches in Europe by 1980. Married with four daughters, he mentored Zulu leaders and collaborated with theologian Kurt Koch. His bold preaching drew 3 million visitors to KwaSizabantu over decades.
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In this sermon, the preacher discusses the theory of evolution and its contradiction to the Bible. He argues that the idea that humans evolved from apes is a fairy tale created by godless individuals. To illustrate his point, he uses the analogy of a watch, stating that hitting a piece of metal with a hammer will not result in the creation of a complex and intricate watch. The preacher concludes by stating that those who promote the theory of evolution are foolish and will end up in hell if they do not repent.
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Let's turn to God's Word and see what God's Word says. The first book in the Bible, Genesis, chapter 2, verse 18, And the Lord God said, It's not good that man should be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him. Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept. And he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman, and he brought her to the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman because she was taken out of man. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. We'll stop reading there. The Bible is wonderful. There's no book like it. It reveals all mysteries to us. Now we know that in schools, very often now, evolution is taught. Where there was a big bang, the big bang theory, and then from there man developed from a fish and tadpoles to, and then eventually became an ape and then a man. It's a wonderful fairy tale. The people who founded and started this theory were godless people. People who didn't believe in God and his existence. They said we just evolved, we just happened to be. Here I have a watch. A friend in Switzerland bought me this watch. It's a good and an expensive watch. It was presented to me. A wonderful watch. It fits so nicely, it's not too big, but it's very reliable. Built very professionally. Now if I took a piece of metal and I put it on the ground and I hit it with a big hammer, created a big bang, would this watch evolve out of it? By hitting that piece of metal, that it flies into many pieces in many directions, would such a beautiful watch come out of it that was built so intricately with small little wheels and cogs and screws? It's obvious people who promote such a theory don't have much brains in their head. In fact, they are fools. And if they don't repent, they'll end up in hell. Because they go against what the Bible says. But then again, it's their own problem if they refer to their ancestors as apes. But if you'd ever call him a monkey, he'd be very upset. Even though they're proud of their theory, they don't like to be referred to as monkeys. They don't like to be referred to as monkeys. I just don't understand why they totally disregard their brothers and sisters out there in the bushes. Especially the older monkeys. They should build old age homes for them. They should care for them. After all, shouldn't we be caring for the poor? Now those monkeys in the jungle, they are really desperately poor. So I don't know why they don't do anything for them. And now we'd like to go back here and go back to the beginning. Because even the Lord spoke about something and said, Yes, you do it this way now, but originally it was not so. Now here we've read about the very beginning of mankind. Where men and women were created. And we also read how God created all the animals out of the ground. And so we've read here how the Lord created the earth and all that's in it. The animals, vegetation, the universe. And then right at the end, the crowning glory of his creation was mankind. But when he created man, he did it differently. He didn't do it like he had created all the animals, the cows and the monkeys and everything else. He created man in his own image. Out of the ground, the dust that climbed to the top of the mountain, He took that and he molded it into form according to his image. But then he breathed his spirit, his life into man. And that's where man was born. When he had created man in his image, he said, Well I've now named all the stars and the different planets or bodies in the sky, But now you men who are created in my image, now you name the animals and the birds. God gave man an elevated position in his creation. For he created man in his image. And then he instructed man to rule over all the creation. And he brought the animals before Adam and said, Now you give them names. I want to see what you'll name them. Now in the Bible, a name is given to a thing or a person according to what that person is. So he brought all the animals to Adam and he said, You give them names. And according to what Adam named them, that was its name. The lion came along. The king of the beasts. And he named it a lion. And the lion went past. And the elephant came. And its wife. And he said, That is an elephant. Mr. and Mrs. Elephant. Mrs. Elephant is the queen. Not only Mrs. Elephant is the queen. So all the animals came, great and small, and he named everyone. He must have had an extremely bright mind. And one can imagine he must have, being created in God's image, he must have really had a very bright mind. Some people say there are over half a million different types of animals. The dog came along. All different sizes and shapes. And he had a name for each one. And so the animals came, the birds came. With these skinny legs like a crane. We had one here once and someone came along and said, Oh you know so and so has got legs just like this bird. And he named the different birds as well. He knew what to name the crow. And then that bird came along that also thinks a lot of itself and he knew that one must be named a peacock. So he named one after the other. Some with a lot of fur, others just a little bit long and a short neck. God created in a wonderful way. And he said Adam now you name them. And eventually they had all gone past him. When all had passed. He said, but I He said now everything has gone past and every animal that has gone past has found its match. But I have not found my match among all these animals that went past. And he said Lord I haven't found a helper that's like me. He said yes lots of animals have come past. Even the birds, the sparrows that sing so nicely. But yes it sings nicely but it's not a helper for me. And then God said yes I realize it's not good for Adam to be alone. I will create for him a helper. Someone that's like him. But among all the creation there was not one found that would be a helper to Adam that was like him. So God brought a deep sleep over him. And perhaps Adam was exhausted by then. It was a huge job that he had just finished. And he brought upon him a deep sleep. While he was asleep. That deep sleep. And he said I will create for him a helper. God came and he took out one of his ribs. So he performed an operation on him. You know when you are under anesthetic how you are operated on. So God. So God was the first surgeon to perform an operation. So he took out that rib and he closed up the fish. He went off with his rib. And then around it he formed Eve. And when Adam awoke. God then presented the last creature to him. And that was Eve. And Adam said well this is not a mosquito. It's not a bee. And God said. And when Adam saw who he was. He immediately recognized who he said. This one is taken from man. This is a woman. A man. But a female man. So this is flesh of my flesh. Bone of my bone. Adam had huge wisdom and discernment. No one needed to tell him. He knew exactly. That when he saw. The man. And he knew that. And he discovered. This is a woman. And he saw. The man. And he knew exactly. This is a woman. And he knew. He hadn't degraded into what mankind has degraded into today, caused by alcohol and drugs and all sorts of sin where man cannot discern anymore. He doesn't know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. He can't tell the difference. That old serpent hadn't yet blinded his eyes like so many today, who can't tell the difference even between an animal or a man, a monkey and a woman. And a monkey comes past and mistakes it for a woman. So if you have to teach evolution at school, remember to tell the children that this is just a myth, a theory that was created by some white people that are godless, who deny God. And even when beautiful animals were presented to Adam, he could see the difference. He saw this is not flesh of my flesh, this is not my type. And if you go at night, some animals can be pretty much like humans, but he could see the difference. And he said, Lord, I haven't found a helper among all these animals. I cannot live with a pig or a dog or a goat. How can they cook for me and care for me? He needed a helper comparable to him, like him. At that time Adam was alone on the earth, the only human, with all the animals. And he said, all these animals cannot be a helper to me. How can we have children and offspring? Now God could have created, like he created Adam, he could have created millions of men and just had men. But God said, no, that's not what he wanted. And even Adam realized that, no, there's no companion here for me. There's no one for me here that will be my helper, even with all these animals. But when he woke up out of that sleep, he immediately recognized Eve and said, that is my companion. And he called her woman, for she was taken from the men. So the woman had a special position. They weren't just created from the ground, from the dust, but from the men. So there's a difference, but now you should live accordingly. Don't live like you're just dirt. We men were taken from the dust. We were taken from the dust. We don't even know what color clay that was, but he took that clay and he worked with it and formed a man out of it. And then formed the woman out of the man. And he said, that's my companion. And that's how he brought them together. And it says, therefore, for that reason, a man will leave his father and mother and cling to his wife. He will leave his father and mother and cling to his wife. He will leave his father and mother and cling to his wife. Imagine the Lord saying that a man will leave father and mother and be joined to his wife. That's something amazing, but it's interesting. Many women, they complain today. They say their husbands, they're not interested in them anymore. But what is it? What are you doing that he doesn't want to be close to you? A man will run off to other women and even prostitutes. What is it that you are doing that he's not attached to you? For the Bible says he will leave father and mother and be joined to his wife. If your husband is not attached to you, then I say you've done something wrong. If your husband is not attached to you, then I say you've done something wrong. You see, you're not a helper to him. That's why he goes to other women. They will do anything for your husband, and they will win him over. But you fail. You're not doing what you're supposed to be doing. Marriage is something wonderful. It's something God created. It should be something beautiful, just like God brought together Adam and Eve. Now you men listen carefully. God came and He took a rib out of man. Where did God take the woman from? From out of your sight. Remember, here right under your heart. That's where He took the woman from. Not from under your feet, where you can just trample on her. But you women remember, God also didn't take a woman from the head of the man. So that also shows you, you shouldn't be atop here, sitting on his head. But you women remember, God also didn't take a woman from the head of the man. So that also shows you, you shouldn't be atop here, sitting on his head. But you women remember, God also didn't take a woman from the head of the man. So that also shows you, you shouldn't be atop here, sitting on his head. But you women remember, God also didn't take a woman from the head of the man. So that also shows you, you shouldn't be atop here, sitting on his head. But you women remember, God also didn't take a woman from the head of the man. So that also shows you, you shouldn't be atop here, sitting on his head. I'm supporting her, helping her, and not treating her as if she's just dirt. So as I said, man was created right at the end. It was like the crowning glory of the creation. But remember that the woman was even created after the man. So in a way, the woman is like the crowning glory even of the man. If you, young man, feel you need to get married, don't just go around looking for a nice peach for yourself because usually it's rotten inside, there's a worm inside, you'll see what will happen to you. Rather go on to your knees and pray and ask God to lead you into marriage. You'll go to a lot of trouble to find a wife to get married to her, if it's not from God, you could regret it for the rest of your life. If you, young man, feel you need to get married, don't just go around looking for a nice peach for yourself because usually it's rotten inside, there's a worm inside, you'll see what will happen to you. Rather go on to your knees and pray and ask God to lead you into marriage. You'll go to a lot of trouble to find a wife to get married to her, if it's not from God, You, young man, you're a Christian, and then you get infatuated with a girl that's in the world, maybe because of the way she dresses, you get married to her, and eventually she'll be unfaithful to you as well. That life she lived before, she'll continue with, with other men, and then the marriage ends up on the rocks. And don't take this lightly, because people who live a loose life, who aren't faithful, they end up in a relationship, and maybe a child will be born out of it, and you won't even know whether it's your own child. You look at that child, and you look at the features of the child, and you'll doubt whether it's even your own child. You'll end up in a mess, because you went your own way and not God's way. You'll end up in the mud. And even if you have your own children, those children will make you go grey before your time. They'll live their own life, immorally, maybe end up having AIDS. They'll get married. That son-in-law can make your life a misery. And remember, God didn't create man and man. He created man and woman. God created man and woman. God created man and woman. Remember, God didn't create Adam and Steve. He created Adam and Eve. But remember, if you persist in your evil ways, not going God's way, you can expect to reap all of that which you've sown. And it can be terrible. As I said, I'm so thankful for the parents of these couples that I've got engaged today. You're privileged, you're blessed. Remember, not all children live like this. Many children go their own ways. They live a life out in the bush. And many children, they end up on the wrong way. Why? Because of their mothers. The mothers, they tolerate the wrong that the children are doing, and instead of stopping them, correcting them, they even encourage them in their wrongdoing. That's why I'm so thankful. Can I have six pence, which is five cents in today's terms? Remember in those days you had pounds, shillings and pence. Now the son always came to the mother and said, Mother, can I have six pence to buy some sweets? But he didn't buy sweets, he went and bought beer or alcohol. And she'd always complain and said, Oh my son, you're always asking me for more money. But she'd always give him some more. And when he came back, you could smell the alcohol. The next day it was the same. See, the mother had pity on the child. And that's why, out of that pity, she just gave it. And that's where that boy ended up. But I wonder where you, mother, will end up if your son ends up in hell because of that. That mother was not like Spurgeon's mother. Spurgeon was referred to as the prince of preachers. She once said, Lord, if my children choose not to follow you, I will be the first one to testify against them on judgment day. I'll be a swift witness against them. Are you mothers like that? Will you be the first one to testify against your child? Or will you go to hell with your child? It's my child. Blood is thicker than water. You need to be able to correct your child if it's on the wrong way. And stop it from going that wrong way. Otherwise, you'll just be helping it and it's wrong. And it'll have illegitimate children. Bring them home to you. You'll end up nursing all of these children and maybe end up with AIDS among them. And so this boy came day after day, always asking for some more money, and she'd complained but ended up giving it to him. He went and drank with his friends and then he fell ill. Eventually, the son was an invalid and she had to do everything for their child. And the son one day called his mother and said, Mother, come close to me. Get your ear close to my mouth. I want to say something to you. She said, What is it, my son? And the mother said, What is it, my child? He said, Please get your ear close to my mouth. I want to say something to you. When she got close, he suddenly bit her ear and bit a chunk right out of her ear. And that son said, Mother, I'm going to die soon. And I'm going to end up in hell, but I want you to know it's because of you. Because you helped me in my wrong. Your money that you gave me. I'm going to end up in hell. I'm going to end up in hell. All you who are the offspring of Eve, be careful that you don't get deceived by that old serpent, because you'll regret it. I'm going to end up in hell. I'm going to end up in hell. And you, offspring of Adam, don't just fall for it. You should be real men. Don't just be influenced by your wife when she does something wrong. Be like Job, who when his wife came and said he should just curse God and die, he said it's impossible. He was a real man. He didn't just let her influence him wrongly. He didn't just let her influence him wrongly. eventually you give in to him you maybe even got married to him and later he called you a prostitute because of what you did and you were unfaithful and maybe if you fall pregnant he'll even turn against you and say it wasn't him but remember even now maybe you got it all wrong things went wrong but you can still come to the Lord today and he can still make everything new but unless you come to him then you are nowhere even if you think you're the brightest person around you're actually not even in grade are yet you have you know nothing until you've met the Lord you've confessed your sin and come to the cross and had a meeting with God you boys you girls young men ladies men and women there's only one way and that was that we go on to our knees and come to the Lord Jesus Oh finally when God was to was going to create Eve a helper for Adam he brought a deep sleep over him when he did that operation what he does and then he brought her to him and he called her woman Oh Jesu get increased now Jesus is the God brought a deep sleep over Adam yet didn't have sleepless nights because of a woman God brought a deep sleep he left it over to God and then out of his side came forth Eve out of his side and then she was woman now Jesus on the cross God brought a deep sleep over him he was wounded at the side water and blood flowed out so that out of that out of that side out of that wound Christian could come out of Christ as Eve came out of the side of men so a Christian comes out of the side of Christ and he had to die a deep sleep came over him and that's where Christian is born that's where you child of God where you come from out of his side the whole thing is a picture of Jesus and his church I didn't speak about monkey monkeys and Bobby arms I spoke about you monkey and you gorilla you dog and you pig these animals are just a symbol of what you are the life that you live and you go to hell and less that you get to the man who died on the cross and come out of his womb then the same problem is solved the sin which is in your body he's in you may say I don't want to sin but you sin because the law of sin is in your body and in the members of your body and only one thing will deal with it the side of Jesus nothing else and then it can even get to the point where you then if you have to you can even part with father and mother forsake them and cling to Jesus if they expect something wrong from you that you say I rather part with my with you father and mother than that I should forsake the Lord no no such thing anyhow let us stand up cause he is cool if it's not a look I don't know ever Lord great is this mystery of Adam and Eve got to a cuckoo look a cuckoo if it's a God God Christ never but even greater is the mystery of Christ and his church was a Moyan really can you say no matter what shape or size or color we are but enlighten us shine your light into our hearts
Born From His Side, Triple Engagement
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Erlo Hartwig Stegen (1935 - 2023). South African missionary and revivalist of German descent, born on Mbalane farm near Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, to Hermannsburg missionary descendants. Raised Lutheran, he left school after grade 10 to farm but felt called to ministry in 1952, evangelizing rural Zulus under apartheid. After 12 years of preaching with few lasting conversions, he experienced a transformative revival in 1966 at Maphumulo, marked by repentance and reported miracles. In 1970, he founded KwaSizabantu Mission (“place where people are helped”) in Kranskop, which grew into a self-sustaining hub with farms, a water bottling plant, and schools, serving thousands. Stegen authored Revival Among the Zulus and preached globally, establishing churches in Europe by 1980. Married with four daughters, he mentored Zulu leaders and collaborated with theologian Kurt Koch. His bold preaching drew 3 million visitors to KwaSizabantu over decades.