The gates of hell cannot withstand the Church that has received the supernatural revelation of Jesus. The gates of hell cannot stop God's people. Not only will we not stumble or fall, but as His army we will go and take from Satan everything he has and every person he has controlled!
When the Word of God says the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church, God's view is not that the gates of hell are surrounding the Church and the Church is being bombarded. The Church is not on the defense. That's not the role God sees of His Church.
God sees the Church as an army that is already free, already delivered. God's army is not stumbling or falling. His army is anointed by the Holy Spirit. That means we are filled with the power of God and the Greater One dwells on the inside of us (1 John 4:4).
As we see who Jesus is, we can become like the apostle Paul, who said, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection" (Phil. 3:10). Paul wanted to know Jesus as He really was, seeing Him in His glorious power - when He threw off the principalities and powers, and made an open show of Satan (Col. 2:15).
God sees the gates of hell surrounding those who are not saved that keeps them in the compound of sin. But He sees the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ kicking open those gates and tearing down those walls. He sees the Church snatching away from Satan the sick and the lost and the hurting, then bringing them into the kingdom of God.
Excerpt permission granted by Word Of Faith Publishing
Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).
