In yesterday devotional, we dwelled on saying that “upon this rock…” means upon Jesus. Jesus Christ is the bigger rock (Peros), the massive rock on who we stand firm in our faith. This is what our faith should dwell on. Peter means smaller rock or fragment of rock or stone. The rock Jesus talked of here is from Aramaic language which stands for rock. The explanation here may not negate theological differences though. In our today’s devotional, we will be looking at the phrase: “gates of hell”. There are so many angles to the gates of hell put forward by Bible scholars and theologians. Aim of the devotional is giving explanations on the gospel side of the phrase. The gates of hell here stand for two principal things. One is the satanic powers and the second is powers of ruling governments. According to GotQuestions.org; gates of hell or gates of hades means the power of hades. This source says hades was originally the name of the god who presided over the realm of the dead.
Christians are to know that gates of hell, either as satanic powers or governments of the day, means sources from where attacks on the church of Christ are coming from. From time immemorial, Satan and the constituted authorities of this world have expended their anger on the body of Christ, the church. Jesus is indirectly telling His Disciples that the evil plans of the satanic kingdoms and their collaborated forces of the world governments will rise against the church; but will not overcome the church. Who opposed Jesus most in His days? They are Jews in authorities plus the Romans who were political leaders over the Jews. Jesus predicted that time will come when people will catch Christians and hand them over to authorities for tortures. But true to Jesus’s speech here, the gates of hell have not completely ground the church into extinction. Christians are therefore, to understand the gates of hell as metaphor for out pour of hellish experiences from ruling powers of the world upon Christianity.
The joy of it all is that, our Lord Jesus said the gates of hell shall not prevail. No ruling authority can stop the church of Christ or the churches of God from operating. No Christian should ever believe Christians will vanish from this world except we Christians permit the enemies. We might be hearing threats, seeing killings of our brethren, reading dreadful propaganda in the news. It has ever been and will ever continue. But our God will disappoint all the enterprises of the devils (Job 12: 5). Satan has ever used people in authorities to kill God’s people. In anger King Saul killed 85 Priests and anyone wearing sacred robes of God and every living things in the city of Nob (1 Sam. 22: 18 – 19). All we have to do is prayers. God will rise against all authorities making life uncomfortable for His children. God always repay those who attacked His children with attacks. He sees it a righteous thing to afflict those who afflict us (2 Thess. 1: 6). Hold your hope and faith. God will surely avenge your oppressors!
PRAYER:
BLESSED FATHER, give me grace not to fall from my faith because of threats of enemies of the body of Christ. Show me your salvation and deliverance and change the plans of enemies of Christians to naught in Jesus name.
POSITIVE DECLARATION:
I am like the tree planted on the rock. I cannot be moved no matter the war from my enemies! Amen.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch