Invade

Read: Matthew 16:13-20

Upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. Matthew 16:18

IN WORD

According to the attitudes of many believers, if not their actual words, we are under the enemy’s attacks day and night, and losing the battle. The Antichrist will arrive shortly, and from all appearances, he will win this world over. Jesus will come to rescue His people at the last minute because the church could not demonstrate His victory in this world. But that’s okay, because it was never about this world in the first place. We write it off as a total loss and look forward to heaven’s glory.

Is that the gospel? Not exactly. Yes, there are trials and tribulations in this world, but Jesus did not present us with a defeatist gospel. Just the opposite in fact. One of the reasons the “Good News” is actually good is that the gates of hell cannot prevail against God’s people. We will not be overcome, either with a far-off “one day in heaven” perspective or a down-to-earth, in-this-life perspective. We will suffer losses, but we will win the war.

In Scripture, gates serve several purposes. One is as a physical barrier for the protection of a city or domain. Another is as an expression of the center of power, the place in the city where leaders in Bible times met and made decisions. Either way, hell’s defenses and decisions are subject to the invasion of Kingdom citizens. Hell’s forces don’t plunder us; we plunder them. Life may not look like that at times, but it’s true. God’s glory will cover the earth because His people will cover the earth. Ultimately, we win.

IN DEED

We are not meant to live on the defensive, no matter how oppressed we feel. We encounter evil often, but it doesn’t get the best of it. Kingdom citizens are called to be on the offensive—gates can’t attack us, after all; we attack them. We don’t have a reactive lifestyle; we adopt a proactive one. Like Jesus, we take the initiative to invade enemy territory. And the gates of hell can do nothing to overcome us.

ADDITIONAL READING: Habakkuk 2:14

The purpose of the church in the world is to be the worshiping and witnessing spearhead of all that is in accordance with the will of God.

DONALD COGGAN