In
Matthew 16:
18,
Peter confesses that
Jesus is the
Christ, the
Son of the Living God and
Jesus gives
Peter a new name. He calls him a
rock. Then
Jesus says, "
On this rock" -- and we understand that to mean on the rock of this kind of faith, “
I will build My church ... and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."We describe this principle as the ‘
church militant.’ We don't hear that expression very much, but it’s a great one –
the church MILITANT, victoriously standing against the gates of hell. This is huge. We often think of the church as being all huddled together in a little fortress while the powers of hell rage all around us. But Jesus turns that picture UPSIDE DOWN. He says hell is the kingdom that's huddled together behind iron gates and locked doors. And Jesus says,
'Here comes the church,' and He’s out front leading it and building it and He is battering the gates of hell. Jesus comes, and He is claiming human beings for Himself from the kingdom of darkness who would otherwise be separated from Him forever. He is saying: ‘
That one over there – who will separate Me from THAT one? And this one here --- who will separate Me from THIS one?’ He is passionately reclaiming the people He loves … and the gates of hell are being battered by the power of Jesus and His church.
That's our mission … to batter the gates of hell ... to find people who otherwise would be lost for eternity --- apart from God --- and help them get to Christ.
That’s …
why …
we’re …
here.
This is serious business. It’s not a game. Heaven and hell are as real as it gets.
Are you willing to be salt for somebody in your circle of influence?
Are you willing to share your faith with somebody?
Are you willing to pray for somebody?
THAT is the church militant. And God is calling our church (
www.kenoshafirst.com) to it and we're going to respond. We're going to pray and we’re going to see God move in amazing ways this coming year. We're going to fall on our knees and beg God for a mighty outpouring of His power, and we're going to reach out to people all around us -- people we work with, people we shop with, people we play with, our neighbors, our family, our friends.
And be blessed.