by David J. Stewart
Jesus said that the “gates of Hell shall not PREVAIL against the Church.”
Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this
rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it.” Most people misunderstand this Scripture, thinking that it speaks
of defending ourselves; but that's not what it says. The Bible says that the
gates of Hell will not be able to withstand any attacks by the Church.
Bless God, we as Christians are supposed to be the ones doing the ATTACKING!!! Why do believers sit and wait to be assaulted by the Devil's crowd? This is exactly what's wrong with America. We sit and observe while the Devil's crowd launch homosexuality, Evolution, abortion, Feminism, divorce, Communism, Hollywood smut and filth, Harry Potter's witchcraft, and every sin imaginable at society. Christians need to stop being reactive and start being ACTIVE doing something for God! Noah didn't wait until the rain started to build the ark. Noah built the ark because God told him to build it! The Word of God tells us to go soulwinning, to stand against the evildoers and to contend for the faith. So why aren't more believers doing it?
Christians in America sit idle on their blessed assurance, filling 18-inches of pew every Sunday; doing nothing to get souls saved, doing nothing to stand against evil, doing nothing to fight against crimes in government, doing nothing to contend for the Christian faith; and so the Devil has gained the upper-hand in the battle, taking a foot because we gave him an inch, moving into our homes because we opened the door to him. It's time for Christians to get busy for God!
Oh! that we would have more preaching preachers in America! Oh that we would have more soul-winning believers in America! Oh! that we would have more Christians who take an uncompromising stand against the open wickedness in society today.
Satan's kingdom is an illusion of power. He tries to instill fear into the hearts of people, but he is a defeated being (Revelation 14:11). Why do you think Hollywood movies always portray Satan as a powerful, mighty and intimidating being? It's all an illusion of power that Satan lies about. Satan is the little man behind the curtain in ther Wizard of Oz.
The truth is that Satan is a sniveling coward, as we clearly see in fearful devils cowering in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in Mark 5:7. The devils begged like dogs in the presence of Jesus Christ. Satan is no different—he's a scared Devil! Satan's illusion of power will one day be stripped away, and the world will look upon him in disbelief that he shook the kingdoms of this earth in fear (Isaiah 14:16). Bible prophecy is history written in advance. Satan's doom, defeat and destiny are already sealed and certain; it's just a short matter time until Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire forever.
Jesus is the Rock (Greek: Petra) upon which the Church is built. 1st Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Peter is a rock (Petros) which is built upon the Rock of Jesus Christ, as is every believer. We are all stones; but Jesus is the Cornerstone, i.e., the Chief stone upon which the entire house is built.
When a home is built, the most important part of the structure is the foundation. If you start wrong, you'll end wrong. Many people (such as Catholics) have churchianity, building upon a religious foundation of sinking sand; but as Christians, our foundation is sure and solid, being built upon THE ROCK, Jesus Christ. Amen and amen!
The Bible proclaims that the gates of Hell will not be able to withstand the saving power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” The New Testament Church has been promised divine perpetuity (i.e., endlessly perpetual). It shall not fail. Countless totalitarian dictators throughout history have tried to destroy Christianity, the Bible, and the holy name of Jesus Christ; but they have all utterly failed. The name of Jesus is still holy, and the Bible is still God's inspired Word, and God is still on His throne. But men die and the world passes away from generation-to-generation. All the hordes of Hell cannot defeat the Church, nor resist the saving power of the gospel to save the vilest of sinners who repent toward God by faith in Jesus Christ to be forgiven.
The gates of Hell cannot prevent anyone from being saved. There is salvation for the vilest sinner who places his or her faith in the Lamb of God for forgiveness of sins. John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” The Devil may think that he has your soul. All the devils may rejoice that your life is so saturated with demonic influences that all seems hopeless. Ah, but listen my friend, the wondrous grace and mercy of God is available to anyone who comes in Jesus' name to be saved.
Jesus plainly taught in Matthew 16:18 that the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church. Gates don't attack people. The meaning is clear that the Church is supposed to charge against the forces of Hell. The Bible confirms this in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The battle is not against flesh; but against the powers of darkness. Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Don't let the power of Satan take you to Hell.
ACDC's Brian Johnson sings in their blasphemous song “Hell's Bells” ...
I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives,
Nobody's puttin' up a fight,
I got my Bell, I'm gonna take you to Hell,
I'm gonna get ya, Satan get ya.
Nobodies putting up a fight? I'm gonna take you to Hell? Satan get ya? Do you realize that AC/DC has sold 68,000,000 albums in the United States? They've sold 42,000,000 of the “Back In Black” album in the U.S. with the song “Hell's Bells” and “Highway to Hell” on it. It's the second best selling record of all time. They're On a Highway to Hell (VIDEO)
Satan is recruiting our young people in America, and destroying their lives, because nobodies putting up a fight! The Church is lagging behind, falling back, turning apostate, which is no true Church at all. Nearly all of the world's religions are completely void of truth and the Spirit of God. The Word of God has been forgotten, corrupted, and abandoned.
Satan is at work, relentlessly trying to corrupt the true Church with false Bibles, false doctrines and false gospels. The gates of Hell cannot prevail against us if we preach the truth of God's Word. The truth will prevail.
We are living in horribly wicked times, in a woeful generation that despises the truth. God is blasphemed by Hollywood, sin is mocked on Late Night TV, and wickedness is everywhere. Truly, SIN CITY has become America's spiritual capitol.
Matthew 16:18 ought to encourage every believer. God has promised that the gates of Hell (i.e., the forces of darkness) cannot prevail against the work of the Lord. Satan may be able to blind the mind of unbelievers (1st Corinthians 4:4) with worldly philosophies and false religion (Colossians 2:8) in an attempt to keep them lost; but Satan cannot prevent the saving power of the gospel from reaching lost sinners Jesus Christ.
We are on the winning side in Christ Jesus! The gates of Hell cannot keep us out. The saving power of the gospel of Jesus Christ can smash those gates, enter into Hell, and save the worst sinner who receives Jesus Christ, believing upon the Son of God for the forgiveness of sins.
"Present-Day Wickedness, Apostasy and Modern Civilization Cannot Prevent Revival" —Evangelist John R. Rice
