that he's a man of stickability. I don't know whether there's a word like that, but I've described him like that. And just to see that you, brethren, are still faithfully here, so that the new brethren come and find you here, what a joy that is. And I'm very grateful also for the new people who are here. You may have heard of my name, but it's good that we can meet today. It was May 1st, 2006. We were having a family day in this place. Both my good brother John Mukeva, Pastor Masunga who is now pastoring somewhere else, myself and a few others we were giving different topics and it was a lovely day. In the process, My wife mentioned to me that I'm feeling a lot of headache, serious headache, so I said, good, you go and rest. And she passed by at Dr. Roko's place, got some medication, went home. May the 1st, 2006, really began to be a very difficult time because her illness finally landed us in Eldoret as we sought for medical attention. Little did I know that by taking her to Eldoret for treatment, it was also going to be the turning point in my ministry, moving away from a place I'd known ever since, really. But the Lord has been good. I say that so that you may wonder, oh, why did you leave the city? Why did you leave this town or this church? It was on health reason. But the Lord has been good to us. We really don't deserve all that he has done for us. Today, I want to bring God's word to you. And what a joy to see among you, not only you older members here and the new faces, but also just to see some of my own relatives, the nieces, my own brother, and his wife, and the children. What a joy, what a joy. But now let's turn to God's word. The passage that we had earlier read, Matthew chapter seven. What I want to bring before us is beware of false peace. Beware of false peace. I didn't ask how long I'm allowed to preach, but I hope you'll bear with me. I don't think I'll keep people too long, but I want to bring God's word to us. If you are able to turn there, Matthew chapter seven, verse 21 to 23. Please as you turn there, receive sincere greetings. I talked with my wife last night, and I do know that they are praying for us at the worship service this morning. Matthew chapter seven, I read verses 21 to 23. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Let us pray. Oh Lord, our God, we now seek your help that we may understand your word. May the Holy Spirit be our inner teacher so that these truths will bring good to us. Every one of us, children and teenagers and adults, the saved and the unsaved, Lord, speak. For this we pray in Jesus' name, amen. Now, this is someone on the mount, actually beginning from chapter five. to the end of chapter seven, which was read. And this is our Lord's teaching. The Lord Jesus Christ is the one who has been teaching. And we are told at the end of chapter four to who he was teaching and preaching. This is his summon. But who was in that congregation that day? The end of chapter four tells us, and great crowds followed him from Galilee and Decapolis and from Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan. A great crowd. Chapter five, when he began his preaching, then he describes to his hearers and therefore to us also here, the character of his followers. Those who'd be members of his kingdom, this is what you can expect. of them, the beatitudes. This is how they look like, in other words, right from verse one all the way, verse 10, verse 12, indeed, going forward. But then he goes on and he shows snakes the requirements of those who'd be in the kingdom. He then speaks to them such words as in chapter five, verse 20. I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom. of heaven, the requirement of entering heaven, how high it was. And definitely for his hearers who knew about the scribes and the Pharisees to be told that they have to have a righteousness beyond that of the Pharisees was surprising indeed. Well, he then goes on and shows what it is to obey Him, what it is to keep His commandments, His laws. And as you read chapter six, chapter five and then into chapter six, you see we take the law of God ever so lightly. But the Lord Jesus Himself expounds and shows the depth of what it is. to keep his law. Now, as he moves to chapter five, chapter six, and then into chapter seven, he shows us something of who God is. In chapter six, he dwells a lot about God as our Father, and how encouraging that is, that God is our Father. But then as he moves to chapter seven, and he talks about God as our judge. Now, people, many people don't like chapter seven. God as judge? Why the change? It was good to hear about God as our father in chapter six, but chapter seven, it's about God. And yet, even as we learn about God as judge, what a lesson or what lessons we learn from that. When we understand God as judge, then it helps us to be able to judge others fairly. When we understand God as judge, we will also be able to judge ourselves properly. And so, chapter seven is about God as judge. And you know what? Just after that, the Lord Jesus basically has finished his sermon. and now he brings in or he comes in with the application. What will these things mean to you, the crowd, as you are about to go away, so what? And that's, we pick it where Pastor read from verse 13, the beginning of his application, he charges these people, telling them, Enter by the narrow gate. Consider these matters I have talked to you about, I've taught you, and enter by the narrow gate. But as he does that, he urges his readers, his hearers, As you're at that entrance, as it were, of the narrow gate, you're about to enter, I want to warn you, the Lord Jesus Christ tells his hearers, remember he has told them, enter by the narrow gate because the way is easy that leads to destruction. Do not enter by the wide gate, enter by the narrow gate. It is the one which will lead you to life. The end of verse 14. But he says, only few get it. So as his hearers, are urged to enter, as it were, they are at the threshold, they are at the door. They need to consider to enter, and he tells them in verse 15, beware. Beware of those who would seek to persuade you otherwise, dissuade you, move you away from this serious consideration I have set before you. Beware of false prophets. because they come to you in sheep's clothing. I know this is a long introduction, but it is helpful so that when we come to verse 21, we really know what it is we are pursuing. So in verse 15, he says, beware of false prophets. Now please, that would be a whole sermon by itself. But you know, false prophets, and they are there today. Peter tells his readers, as there were false prophets then, there are false teachers today. They are there, my friends. As I say, that's another summon, but it's important that we bear that in mind. There are those who, they come, they do not have a sign on their forehead saying we are false prophets or false teachers, no. Instead, it is the way they speak. It is what they do not say, we may put it that way. They may say a lot of nice things, and actually they do. False prophets are known for saying nice, easy things, and that's why many are being led astray to enter through the wide gate, the easy way. Why? False prophets tell them, don't make it hard for yourself. You can live your best life now, the false prophets tell us. And you know some of them. They tell evangelists, Joel Austin, Joyce Meyer, and all that long list of name. Some of them, Joel Austin, does not even preach about hell. And therefore such passages as would touch on hell, no. He does not want to make life easy for anyone. He's a false prophet, if you didn't know. Most of us, we leave church this afternoon, we go back, switch off on the TV, and there he is, or there she is, and we imbibe all that, and you say, I like that life. No, my friends, watch, beware of false prophets. Now, that's not my sermon today. He has warned us about them. We will know them by their fruit. As these people still must consider entering through the narrow gate, then we hear the words that he gives us in verses 21 onwards. You see, in this passage, and let me tell you why I chose to speak on this. I am back in Eldoret, I've been preaching through the Gospel of Matthew. And just last Sunday, I preached on this passage. I would have prepared something completely different, completely new. But again, there's been a lot of pressure of work. And so I thought, no, why don't I bring the same message that I brought to my church last Sunday to you? It's not a cop-out, it's not being lazy. There's been a lot going on. But I trust that this will be of help to everyone of us. So that is why I am preaching this sermon today. But also, I preach this sermon sincerely because I love you. Now I know many of you are seeing me for the first time. Some of you may have not even heard about me. As I said, I've got very glad to be with and among my relatives and that is so encouraging. But it's because my friends, I love you. I do not want any to have false peace. But to genuinely know that it is well with your soul before it is too late. Now this is why this sermon is very important, very crucial. You know, this sermon, and especially the words we are going to look at, where the Lord Jesus tells some people, I never knew you, These things are said or were uttered to those who are religious. These words were uttered to those who were religious. For one, they were listening to the Lord Jesus. Chapter four, verse 25. And indeed, in our passage itself, it is mentioned of the great things they claim to have done in the name of the Lord Jesus. Therefore, they're religious. And this morning, we are all religious. We are all religious, unless you are drugged against your own will to be here. But surely, we are here because You know, we say we know God, we love God, and we want to hear more about him. We are religious. So this comes to us as religious people. Therefore, let us look at what the Lord Jesus Christ presses upon these people right near the end of his summon. And he, does three things. He makes a shocking statement, which we are going to see, and then after that, because he understands how shocked his hearers, and we should be also, how shocked his hearers were, then he gives an explanation of why that shocking statement. And then in the third place, he gives or met his final declaration. After that we will see a couple of areas of application. The first thing then, let us see speedily now, the Lord Jesus makes a shocking statement to his hearers. And this regards false beliefs. You see, in verse 21, our passage, verse 21, not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven. You see, some people believe and say, just the right things about religion, about Christian religion. They do indeed. They claim the right truths. Just for example, and in close relevance to what we are seeing here, they would talk about the Lord Jesus Christ indeed as to his person. that he's indeed God, Lord. And so he says, not all who say Lord, Lord. And then they themselves will say, but Lord, Lord, didn't we do these things? So here are a people who give the right claims. in their lips, their right claims about Christ. They have the right doctrine about him and about his nature, about his work. Because these people believe that yes, he came to save and so they want to go to heaven and they want to go to heaven in his name. So they acknowledge that yeah, he came to save. Let me put it this way. Anyone now, who does not say Lord, Lord, will never enter heaven. In other words, he's not or she's not a believer. Anyone who does not say Lord, Lord, is not a believer. But that's not the end of my sentence. Then I go on to quickly say, but not all who say Lord, Lord, will enter his kingdom. It must be said to qualify to be in his kingdom and to be in heaven, but not all who utter those words will be in heaven. You see, true Christianity is based on believing very central truths of the scripture. But this can only come about by and through the work of the Holy Spirit. So that without the Holy Spirit working in you or in a person, they cannot genuinely utter the word of God. Salvation, or claim to have salvation. Please turn with me to a verse or two here, 1 Corinthians chapter 12. Verse three, 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verse three. It's this passage that talks about spiritual gifts. But we just pick it on verse three. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the spirit of God ever says Jesus is a curse. And no one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit. And so, this must take a divine work. This must take, in other words, to be able to genuinely and savingly claim Jesus Christ as Lord is God's work. not any human endeavor. And you see this again is reinforced, this is emphasized when you look at the book of James, James chapter two. And this is what we see in James chapter two, where James tells us in verse 19, James chapter two verse 19, yes. You believe that God is one, you do well. You know, anyone who believes God is one, now that's a wonderful claim. A very powerful profession, God is one. But then, the second part of the verse. Even the demons believe and shudder. And you see friends, it shows us that it is not enough to utter God or Lord, Lord. The demons know about God, they shudder, why? Because they know their judgment is near. They're already judged, of course, but now, finally, they'll be doomed forever. And that makes them shudder. That makes them fearful, tremble. So in other words, let's look back. We go back again to Matthew chapter seven. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven. for the one who does the will of my Father. On that day, many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name? You see, they don't just say, Lord, we did everything in your name. There is an emphasis there. These people in our world, they are saying, Lord, Lord, There were men and women of zeal. Men and women taken up by emotion. But you see, zeal, or strong zeal for that matter, and emotion is no guarantee that one would find himself or herself in heaven. You see, we have begun this year, 2020, you may have made some resolutions for this year, but I fear that many have entered this year with correct doctrine, correct teachings about God. The things you've learned, right? Either from when you were young or when you have gone to places like here where God's word is declared faithfully. So you have learned doctrines. About God, about Christ and the Holy Spirit and redemption. But they remain doctrine. You are not saved today. If the Lord would come right now, You may actually say, I've been at TBC for so long and I know these doctrines. We've been urged to think seriously, to be engaged in our scriptures. I know about salvation, but are you saved? And that is a serious concern. Remember, in my long introduction I said this passage was preached and they are urged at the end as people who are religious. They came out from different towns to come and to listen to the very bread of life. The very preacher like no other. And the Lord Jesus says, listen, just to know me outwardly and to be excited about me and to call me Lord, Lord. is no ticket for heaven. And so those are the shocking words, the shocking statement that the Lord Jesus Christ made. Quickly, we can look at the second point. The Lord Jesus explains his statement. And as he explains his statement, I would like us to think about what he's saying about false works. False works or deeds. You see, as I explained at the first point to my application, that brief application, you may say, now that is mean. How can you talk so sharply like that? Those are serious statements you have made. Sure, they are serious. Sure they are serious, but let me put this in two ways. One, it is not me, but the Lord Jesus who spoke them. And I stand here then in his name to declare this to you. So that's number one. It was the Lord Jesus who spoke them. And then secondly, The Lord Jesus wants his hearers to know that just works, works alone don't qualify you for heaven. And that's now what he wants to explain to these people or to us now. In his explanation, we see these three things. And he tells them, You see, he takes their arguments. He thinks ahead and he says, listen, I know, I know you will say to me, but Lord, we prophesied in your name, didn't we? So the first thing we just see briefly there is that he handles and explains this issue of we prophesied in your name. So what is it to prophesy? And we can explain it in its simplest way. To prophesy, honestly simply, is to deliver spiritual message, to deliver God's message. That's very simple. So in other words, these people are saying, but Lord, we delivered your message, they say. Of course, please remember our passage began earlier, that the Lord Jesus should warn of false prophets, who their aim, or whose their aim is to lead people astray. And so, even in this point where they say, where the Lord Jesus picks their argument and said, but we prophesied in your name. Suddenly, these people were deluded. Yes, they spoke in the Lord's name, but not anyone who says I come to you in the name of the Lord has been sent by the Lord. No, not everyone. Just a few verses to show because this is serious. Turn with me to one passage in the Old Testament, the book of Jeremiah, chapter 28. Back at Eldoret, we, as you here as a church, are going through the book of Matthew. We are going through the book of Jeremiah, just reading a chapter, Every Lord's Day. And there in chapter 28, There is a false prophet we are told about called Hananiah. And this man Hananiah, Jeremiah has had a burden to tell the children of Israel that because of their sin, disobedience, they are going to be taken to Babylon to suffer, to learn God's way as it were. and then be brought back 70 years later. But then this man, Hananiah, tells the people, so I tell you beforehand, he's actually a false prophet. And we're told about him, he was the son of Azur, the prophet from Gideon, that's verse one. So he spoke to me in the house of the Lord. Remember, in the house of the Lord and in the presence of the priests and all the people. And this is what this man was saying, verse two. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel. I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Listen to this. Within two years, I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took away from this place and carried to Babylon. I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah, the son of Jehiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon. And listen to this, declares the Lord. or I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. Now you can read that passage further on. Jeremiah basically says, fine, let it happen. But I'm telling you, Jeremiah charges him and rebukes him. He never lived long, he died. And of course, the children of Israel had to be in Babylon for 70 years. You see, the mark of false prophets is to deceive people, make life easy for people. And so here, these people, the Lord Jesus knows them, and he knows that on that day they will come claiming, but we prophesied in your name. Thus says the Lord, they would say. And so that's an Old Testament passage. Let's just turn to maybe one or two here. 1 Corinthians chapter nine. 1 Corinthians chapter nine. And there in verse 27. As we read verse 27, this is what I'm longing to bring out. It is possible to preach and never enter heaven. And that's why it is a very serious task to take. Because verse 27 tells us, But I discipline my body and keep it under control. Less, less. After preaching to others, the Apostle Paul says, I myself should be disqualified. The Apostle Paul knew that ever so well. And basically we may say he would not take chances. He wants to make sure it is well with him. And so he disciplines himself. He does self-discipline that earlier we were taught here. He looks at himself against God's word and anything that would reveal otherwise, he will deal with such ruthlessly. Why? To make sure he does not just preach to others and then fail to enter heaven. We are learning about people who preached to others. Lord, Lord, we brought your word to the people, but they never made it to heaven. There are other passages you can look at. I won't turn to them for the sake of time, but 1 Corinthians chapter 13, 1 Corinthians chapter 13, verses one to three, and also Philippians chapter one, verse 15. Because in Paul's day, there were those who were preaching just to get at Paul. And Paul says, I'm thankful God's word is going forth, but it would be tough on such people, because they've got ill motive in their preaching. And so, the Lord Jesus then explains his hard words, fast as we have seen, by telling us something about these people claiming, but we prophesied in your name. And then in the second place, We cast out demons in your name. So it's not enough that we came preaching, urging people, teaching them about the Lord Jesus and who he is and the work he has come to do, but that they also cast out demons in the name of the Lord. Of course, as we know, there's quite a lot of demon being cast out in some churches. Even now, as I preach here, the bulk of some places of worship is demons. Somehow, every Sunday, demons go to that church and they must be cast, and another Sunday comes and they must be cast, and so they are experts in casting out demons. I could well be asked, how many demons have you cast out? I say none, and then it's like, no, you're not a powerful creature. And so these people would actually tell the Lord, and the Lord knows it, did we not cast out demons in your name? But my friends, I want to say, this is no sign of salvation. To cast out demons is not any proof that it is well with our souls. Let me give you an illustration or an example, biblical example. We'll look at that passage a little later. You know of Judas Iscariot. That particular time when the Lord Jesus sends them out to go and preach. And they went and they preached and they cast out demons. And then they came back and told the Lord Jesus, as now they were giving report, Master, even the demons was subject to us. We cast them out, almost right, left, and center. Do you know what? We do not read there that for some reason, one of us, Lord Jesus, did not perform casting out of demons. And so we were wondering, In fact, even later, when it is revealed that he was a thief, now there was no sign that he failed in his demon casting. So this report shows us that even Judas, even Judas, was able to cast out demons. And therefore, I emphasize and we go on, demon casting, casting out demons, which so often you turn on a TV program and that's what they claim they do and people have to fall and roll down and be banged on the head. No sign, no sign whatsoever that the person who is doing that is anywhere godly. Let us be warned. In the third place, so not only will these people say, we prophesied in your name. Not only will they say, but we cast out demons in your name. They will also say, Did we also not do mighty works in your name? We did them in your name, Lord Jesus. But this too, my dear friends, even this is no proof that it is well with one's soul. We are in the book of Matthew. Turn with me to chapter 24. Chapter 24, verse 24. The Lord Jesus Christ himself says this. For false cries, Matthew 24, 24. For false cries and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders so as to lead us straight, if possible, even they lacked. And that last phrase, how helpful. If the statement or the sentence had stopped at these people being led astray or people being led astray, what hope or what confidence would we have? If you are a believer, do know, by God's grace, false teachers will not lead you astray. But it's only by God's grace. It is what God himself has designed. He cares for us. Now it's not automatic. One who claims to be a believer must so live and watch and beware But that last part of the verse, how glorious. However, the first part is true. For false cries and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders. What's their aim? To lead people astray. There's, of course, a number of other passages. Let me just give you one more, and then we move on. And this is in 2 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, and we look at verse nine. 2 Thessalonians chapter two, verse nine. Just pick it. a concentrated argument as it were, but verse nine, the coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders. The activity of Satan. The false prophets I said earlier, they do not have signs on their forehead to tell us that they are false. But it is the things they do. It is what they say and also what they keep back unsaid. So this is why the Lord Jesus Christ then gives very serious statement that we saw in the first place. He has explained it. These works, which these people now would claim before him, but we prophesied, we cast out demons, we did mighty works. Lord Jesus says, no, no, no, no, that will not do. Just to say again, friends, many people chase after miracles. Not only casting out demons, but miracles come for you, a miracle, maximum miracle, and what have you, miracle, and people, Such places are flooded. Even, what I jokingly say, even in our village, Eldoret, it's just a sizable number in our church. We have a membership of 30. The congregation may at times be 70, even 80. But you go to such places where the big thing is miracles. You come late, you won't find a place to sit. People flood those places. Well, the Lord Jesus has told these people why he made the strong statement. And then in the third and the final place, Lord Jesus makes his final declaration. Our passage says this at the end, verse 23. And then he will declare to them, I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. I never knew you depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. What do you make of this verse? Honestly, these are the hardest words ever heard. Heavy. They are sharp. They go like an arrow. But to the people, to who they're going at this stage, it's the last, it's the last. I say they're the hardest words because one, the strength of the words are shocking, really shocking. Did you pick that adverb? There he says, I never knew you. Wow. Not ever, we may say. We may say, at no time did I ever know you. Now, how can that be? Listen, we are talking of one who knows everything. He knows everyone. So if you turn to John chapter seven, John chapter seven, and there in verse 46, something is said about The Lord Jesus, verse 46, the officers, you see, the scribes and the Pharisees, the authorities didn't like him. They wanted anything they could do to just apprehend him, put him in jail. So the officers are sent to hunt for him and to arrest him and bring him. And these officers went and listened to how he was teaching the people. And they come back to their bosses, and they must give a report. Where is he? Well, verse 46. The officers answered, no one ever spoke like this man. Now, there we find the word that he has now used, never. Here, the same word but it's translated, no one ever spoke. In other words, no one has ever spoken like this Lord Jesus. Never have we seen someone speak like him. But you see, now he's actually saying this to people who want to enter. It says, I never knew you. But you see, as I was just going to mention, one, the word used is very strong. Two, they are uttered by none other than God himself, the Lord Jesus Christ is God. And this one who is God knows everyone and everything. He knows all our action. He knows every one of us. And yet, he says, I never knew you. Never knew us, never knew me, Lord Jesus. And he says, never, never. Now, in what sense? Of course, it doesn't mean that the Lord Jesus somehow says, by the way, I'm not sure, I've not seen you, no. No, he means this, my friends, in this very interpersonal relationship. The Lord Jesus, in his redeeming work, through the Holy Spirit, gets to enter into a relationship with a person so that he knows that person. That word, of course, as you know, also is used very strongly to describe the relationship between a husband and a wife in their intimate relationship. But now the Lord Jesus says, I never knew you. In other words, you're not a part of my flock. In that sense, I never purposed to save you. If that was my purpose, then I would have entered into this personal relationship with you. Wow, these are hard words. You see, finally, let me hurry on to say that which makes this declaration very hard, very sharp, that there is no appeal. There is no appeal. You cannot say, Lord Jesus, you mean you don't know me? And then somehow this person goes to God the Father or God the Holy Spirit and say, he has forgotten me. No, there is no appeal hereafter. And it is said of these people, Depart from me. Go to hell, Lord Jesus says. Go to that everlasting destruction. Why? You workers of lawlessness. Workers of lawlessness. In other words, you so carried yourself about the things you did, you did in disregard to my law in disregard to my word. You despised my word. Prophet Hananiah disregarded the word of the Lord. Instead he put his own words and then says, thus says the Lord. These people did whatever they did prophesying, casting out demons and doing wonders in disregard to the Lord Jesus Christ and his word. We must go home. Let me give you just two things to think about. Two things to think about by way of application. One, This passage and what we have seen urges us to make our salvation sure. This passage is urging us that we make our salvation sure. Are you saved? You may claim, well, yeah. Often I ask people, Are you expecting to go to heaven? Of course, well, yes. Why? But you see, I do this, and this has happened to me, and I did this. In my own case, I was baptized as a small boy, about age nine, 10 there, after going through some Catholicism classes. And if the Lord had not saved me, later when I joined from one, 1971, I would still be saying, but Lord, if that day should come, but Lord, look, I was even baptized. In fact, I even joined the Lord's supper thereafter, or the Holy Communion. Surely, Lord, I wasn't one of the bad boys. though I was a hypocrite, only by God's grace. And he saved me. Then I realized. That's why I'm saying please, please make your salvation sure. Why? Because religious activities, great zeal, spiritual powers are no evidence of salvation, no evidence of salvation and no guarantee that you will enter heaven. In that sense then, I feel this is timely, this is timely. Remember the passage tells us of a people who now it is too late, there is no appeal. And yet here we are today. Make your salvation sure. That is what counts. Let me just quickly give you a verse that earlier I'd quoted a part of it, but never asked you to turn to it. Luke chapter 10 verse 20. Luke chapter 10 verse 20. It's that passage where this Disciples of the Lord Jesus return, and then they tell him, verse 19, they recount, in verse 17, they return with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name. There we are. And he said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven, Behold, I have given you authority to trade, and serpents, and scorpions, and over all the paths of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, nevertheless, however, verse 20, do not rejoice in this. that the spirits are subject to you. No, that's not our source of joy, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. So I just plead with every one of us here that we make our salvation sure. Please do not deceive yourself under some false peace. Oh, I have done this for the Lord. Oh, but I have taken this step for the Lord. Please, make your salvation sure. The second and the final place, test yourself. Test yourself. and of course others, but it must begin with us as individuals. Test yourself. What do I mean or how? We all need a mirror. Most of us would have gotten hold of a mirror just to check how we are before then coming to this worship. We need a mirror to test ourselves. And you know, my friends, the mirror that we all need to test ourselves to make sure it is well with our souls, it is the beatitude. It is the beatitude. It is this very someone that the Lord Jesus has been teaching and preaching. So how is the beatitude becoming my mirror? Right at the beginning, we see these words, verse three of chapter five of Matthew. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Poverty in the spirit. an awareness that there is nothing good. You yearn for that which will bring and make sense, and so may God be pleased with you. It does not come within ourselves. We are poor. It comes from the Lord. He's the one who provides. Also, poverty of spirit. And also, that we mourn, we mourn over sin in our hearts. Now, in Kenya today, I think there's quite a lot of mourning, weeping, crying within us of what is happening around us. The corruption, the people who should provide services to us because we pay taxes or just because we are in this nation. Children don't pay taxes, but anyway, those who are in places where they should render service. demand corruption or are corrupt. That makes us feel pain within us. And we can multiply examples of why within every true believer there is mourning. But leave all that aside, my friend. This mourning must be about the sin within your own heart. That is when you can honestly say, it is well with my soul. Because when you mourn, the Lord Jesus is the one who then comforts with his spirit when he works within you to forgive your own sin, fill you with his Holy Spirit. I could go on, hunger and thirst after righteousness. Let's all stand before the mirror of Christ and look at ourselves and when we do, we should be able to see, genuinely we should be able to see ourselves condemned, condemned. And indeed, that unless the Lord Jesus Christ himself does something, we are finished, we are finished. In the language of one of the hymns we'll just sing in a moment. Nothing in my hand I bring simply to thy cross I cling. Naked come I to thee for dress. Helpless look to thee for grace. Foul I to the fountain fly. Wash me, Savior, or I die. Oh friends, if that is your position, let me tell you, the Lord Jesus, before it is that late, the Lord Jesus will say, your sins are forgiven. You will have entered through the narrow gate. It will lead you to life. Anyone now, remember we have read a passage where it is too late. Too late. But today, There is hope. Don't wait till that time when he says, depart, I never knew you. Today he says, come, come. While it is cold today, come. Repent of your sin and be saved. I have taken long, but it's because of love in my heart for every one of us that it will not be too late. and find ourselves on that day and be told to depart. The Lord Jesus is still gracious and strong and ready to save. Come to him, let us pray. Oh Lord, our God, thank you for your word. We pray, please take it and seal it. May it germinate, may it bring good and may your name be glorified. For this we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you my brother. Okay. Kindly rise up for the singing of the closing hymn.