Had We Been in the Time of Our Forefathers Part 1 exposes how the works of darkness continue from generation to generation and why the seed of the serpent still imitates the appearance of godliness without true repentance. The message explains how Satan uses subtlety, disguise, and religious covering to infiltrate the church, just as Simon the sorcerer attempted in the early church. Many people carry old practices into new congregations because they were never transformed by the Spirit. The character of darkness never changes and their mission remains to distract, deceive and destroy. Believers are reminded to stay sober and vigilant, as the enmity between the serpent’s seed and the woman’s seed continues until Christ returns.

Matthew 23:30 ( And say, if we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets)

This is the lamentation of the Pharisees, who decorated the sepulchre of the prophets their fathers killed, but failed to repent of the sins of their fathers, and were ready to persecute the message preached by the same prophets.

They built a monument in remembrance of the prophets who were killed by their fathers but were ready to kill the one sent by God.

Had those who said this been there in the time of their fathers, they would also do the same, even worse than their fathers, no wonder Jesus Christ told them to fill the measurements of their fathers, for that is what they are about to do by persecuting the one sent by God and nailed him to the cross to fill the measurements of their fathers.

As their fathers murdered the prophet, so they continue in the work of destruction to the gospel of peace, which their fathers were also against.

That is how it is also in our generation we honour the late prophets who have gone before us but despise the message they represent, we continue as if it’s nothing in doing the deeds of our father, so that the blood of the prophecy shed including the blood of Christ we trampled on will speak against us on the day of judgement.

If those who were in the world at the time of Jesus Christ on earth are actually present at that time, they would have done worse than the Pharisees, for the presence of God is in their midst, but, still failed to acknowledge it.

It’s those who listen to the voice of Moses through the law and the voice of the prophet that will recognize when the voice of resurrection and life starts speaking to quicken the dead for repentance.

Those who don’t honour the word of Moses would not honour the word of the one who ascended from the grave.

Many of us who are working against the true gospel in our church are honouring the dead in Christ who brought the message and even name some edifice after them to their honour.

How are we different from those who persecuted the first Christians and also nailed the saviour to the cross?

I heard a story of a woman who paid to visit a late prophet on his deathbed to receive blessings. They believe in the prophet but not in God, whom he served.

As the prophet died, will she still follow the dead prophet and abandon the truth he represented?

They honour those who are dead but dishonour the living. This kind of faith is destructive because it will stagnate your spiritual progress and won’t let you advance beyond the spirit of the dead.

Living faith is constant and alive, whether the person who brought it is living or dead, for Jesus Christ is the faith of every believer, and he lives forever.

This is what is leading to the persecution of the true gospel of Christ in the church. When you’re working against the one God sent, how will you obey Christ if he is the one speaking?

Jesus says, As you honour this one in my name, you honour me, as you blessed those who brought the gospel, you bless me, and as you despise those who brought the gospel to you, you also despise me.

Don’t wait till the day that you will regret despising the one sent by God, for they are Christ in manifestation, as they brought His Word to you.

As he was in the world, so also he is here with those who carry his presence in this age. Don’t regret not being alive when the message of Christ was first preached; believe now and have your souls saved from destruction.

Jesus Christ says, many wish to see the time of the Son of man, but they’re not able, though they may not see his time on earth, but his presence is always with his people, and he continues the works he did in the flesh when he was with us, so we also and need to honour him as he is with us at every moment by honouring his Word and his messenger.

Those who said that they would have destroyed all the idols in Nigeria, if they had been in the time of Apostle Babalola, are they not the ones who celebrate idols in the church of the apostle?

Those who said that if they had been in the time of Semple McPherson, they would have served God in a better way, are they not the ones who obstruct the message of oneness preached by the woman?

Check the life of those who propagate this kind of gospel, they’re the ones who will never move above the gospel of their leaders.

That is why the Pharisees sat in the seat of Moses but despised the one preached by the same Moses; they followed the doctrine of their elders but rejected the doctrine that brings salvation, which is the doctrine of Christ.

Prayer: Father Lord break every spirit of stagnation that leads to disobedience to your word among your people, in Jesus name amen.