“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” (Matthew 16:18).
TEXT — Matthew 16:13-19
Message
The Church of Christ has continuously fulfilled the Lord’s prophecy that it would experience a victorious march through history despite the antics of Satan and his agents. More than 2,000 years after our Lord projected this triumph for His kingdom, the body of Christ has recorded success after success. The Church has overcome world powers and empires, which worked to destroy the faith. She has survived the cruel machinations of pompous royalty that felt challenged by the more potent majesty of Jesus. She has defeated the combined forces of doctrinal dissent, false philosophy and hurtful ecumenical pursuits; all orchestrated by the devil throughout the centuries.
Our Lord was aware that fierce spiritual and physical battles lay ahead of those called out of the world to form His Church. So, He prophetically planted in us the unfailing power to march on in victory. The “gates of hell” would surface to attempt to destroy the brethren, He warned, but they shall not prevail against the Church.
The Early Church also benefited from the prophecy. Waves of persecution and martyrdom did not stop her growth. From a small beginning of hundreds of believers in Christ, some 3,000 were added by the Lord. Then 5000 came along. Next, it was uncountable multitudes all in the face of “the gates of hell”.
Christ’s Church is made up of true believers in Him. We carry with us His invincible and triumphant Spirit. As He can never be defeated, so are we unstoppable in the work of winning the world for Him. When we consecrate our lives in purity and obedience to serve Him, we are guaranteed the supernatural power and backing to move on to final victory.
Thought for the day
They labour in vain that seek to conquer the Church of Christ.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
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